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Top Travel News of 2011

2011-12-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

Top travel news of the year from Yahoo:

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/top-travel-news-of-2011.html

Family Suing for Death of Man on American Airlines Flight

2011-12-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

The family of Othon Cortes has filed a $1 million lawsuit against American Airlines alleging AA of being negligent by allowing Cortes to board a flight even though appearing extremely ill, failing to provide adequate medical attention, and for delaying the plane's emergency landing in Norfolk, VA.

During a flight from Barcelona to New York, Cortes- traveling with his wife and daughter- consumed an in-flight meal of chicken and suffered severe stomach pain afterwards. The family made a connecting flight to Miami where he is reported to have felt nauseated and short of breath. During the flight to Miami, Cortes suffered a cardiac event, the plane was diverted to Norfolk, and Cortes was declared dead.

The cause of the cardiac event is currently unknown. Though most food poisoning incidents take 12-24 hours to appear, there are more virulent strains that can appear in 6 hours or so.

Airbus Ceasing Airbus A340 Production

2011-12-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

Airbus will no longer be producing the Airbus A340 craft. Since 1991, Airbus has built a total of about 375 of the four-engine A340s. The craft does not hold more than 440 passengers and has most likely seen a decrease in popularity as a result of the popular Boeing 777. Airbus will continue to make the A330 through 2015.

5 Scams Not to Fall For While Traveling

2011-12-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

It may sound absurd that people might fall for any one of these 5 tourist scams, but there is a reason they are on this list! Read on and travel with caution!

Police Officers as Legitimate as a Village Person: The most common variation of this scam involves someone who appears to be an authority figure (how am I supposed to know what a police officer in Vilnius, Lithuania looks like?) that approaches you to warn of counterfeit money going around and insists on inspecting your wallet in order to ensure you have not been a victim. Naturally, after handing over your wallet the scam artist either runs off with your wallet/ passport or slickly steals what is of value inside of it before giving it back to you and telling you that you're clear.

Avoid anything that seems like suspicious police work! Don't hand over your valuables to anyone in a uniform!

Sorry I Bumped Into You! Let Me Take Your Wallet Now, Thanks!: Pickpockets are very common in areas with high tourist density and often work in teams in order to derail you of your valuables. These thieves often make their way through crowded areas where it is common to be bumped into or will accidentally spill something on you or something of that manner in order to gain access to you and anything you have that is worth money. Other common variants of this scam involve children asking for money, babies getting thrust towards you (in order for your instinct of reaching out for the child to create an opening to steal your goods), and other such events that cause you to fall victim because you are simply being a good human.

Avoid this by keeping your valuables somewhere safe and secure (no back pockets), keeping your purse/ bag around your body and secured in the front of your body, or by keeping your valuable items concealed under your clothing (though this practice when done poorly can showcase your foreignness, so be incognito).

Money "Errors" Like- Oh! 100 - 28 Isn't 11? Oops!: Only got 130 Euro for that $500 you just ponied up? No, the exchange rates didn't warp overnight (and those absurdly high exchange fees did not cost you 200 Euro). In locations that you are very unfamiliar with (though you should have done SOME research before showing up!), look out for the old slow count at cashiers where their counting methods may make it seem like you get the right amount or other similar curious encounters with exchangers. Also beware at restaurants and such (make sure you get the right amount of change back from your bill, as this is easily overlooked).

Avoid this by always using small bills and carefully counting your change. Also, make sure to only exchange money at a trusted retailer.

Scandalous Cab Drivers: Anyone who has traveled abroad should be familiar with the hoards of unscrupulous cab operators that lurk outside of airports (and other areas where transportation is a must), often following and harassing both individuals and groups about giving them a ride- maybe even offering a "package deal" that seems silly to pass up! Often these deals feature a discount hotel room with your cab fare, but when you show up to the (shoddy) hotel, the cheap rooms are all mysteriously gone and all that are left are overpriced rooms (with the cabbie getting a cut). Get fares up front and if it seems unfair, it probably is.

Ways to avoid this one are pretty straightforward. Do your research. Know the distance between the airport and hotel (or wherever you plan on traveling to)- make sure the driver knows that you are knowledgeable (even if you might be faking it). Only take trusted, licensed cabs (no... not every person with a car offering rides is a legitimate cab driver...) not just any unmarked car off the street- many cities like London offer a service that can provide an official cab for you for little or no cost.

And of course...

The Deceitful Do-gooder: Beware the all-too-eager-to-help bystander, they may be out to rip you off. This is not to say that you should be suspicious of every person that comes within a 48 foot radius and offers to help you out, some people actually are good Samaritans. Some common traps: In Spain, a woman offers you a sprig of rosemary and as you reach out for it, she grabs your hand and reads your fortune and demands payment; in Paris, people on the street may offer to make you a friendship bracelet and the next thing you know they have a super strong string tied around your finger threatening to break it unless you pay them big bucks; somebody may pop your tire and then nicely offer to help you change it (while their accomplice raids your vehicle); and don't forget the classic "I will take your picture!" and then scream at you as they are sprinting down the road while you are standing there looking foolish pretending to hold the Leaning Tower of Pisa up with just a finger (a mere finger!)... "Sucker! Thanks for the camera!" Others offer to help buy you train tickets, etc only to take off with your cash.

Bottom line is, not everybody is out to get you- but if you're not careful you might just get got by the one person that is. Don't give people an opening and you likely won't be targeted. If you are approached by someone it is typically a best practice to avoid eye contact and not to accept anything they are handing out.

Qantas Twitter Competition Backfires

2011-11-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

Qantas encouraged travelers to tweet details of their ideal on-board luxury experience to compete for an opportunity to win their own amenity kit and pajamas offered to first class passengers. The twitter competition instead provoked more than 10,000 negative responses related to a labor dispute that caused several October flight cancellations from the carrier that left passengers stranded worldwide. No winner has been announced.

Woman "Imprisoned" for 12 Years on Scientology Cruise Ship

2011-11-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

Valeska Paris claims to have been held against her will for 12 years on the Church of Scientology owned cruise ship "Freewinds" after her mother broke from Scientology because she says her husband's self-made small fortune of over $1 million was coerced from him which resulted in his committing suicide.

Paris was 18 at the time and was allegedly told she would be on a two week cruise on the ship in order to "disconnect from her suppressive mother," but then found herself forced to labor for up to 48 hours at a time by herself in grueling areas of the ship. Paris also claims that she was not allowed to leave the ship without a close escort at all times, so she had no opportunity to escape or leave even though she made it clear that she did not want to be there.

The typically private Church of Scientology fully denies the claims but would not agree to provide news outlets with any interviews.

Virgin America and Air Canada Top List of Healthy In-Flight Eats, Southwest and Spirit on Bottom

2011-11-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

Dietdective.com has conducted a recent survey of the food offerings on nine different airlines in order to determine which airlines offer health-conscious options and which are the most apt to cause your body to spill over into the next seat during the duration of your flight.

At the top of the list of healthy in-flight food were options offered by Virgin America and Air Canada. Both of these airlines offer healthy snacks including vegetables and hummus, nuts, and filling meals like an egg and vegetable wrap offered by Virgin America that has only 370 calories and is high in protein.

The airlines in the middle of the health rankings for the nine studied were United Airlines, US Airways, Jetblue, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines. These airlines offer mostly healthy options for full meals but do not tend to provide snacks that feature low calorie counts or high levels of nutrition.

The worst airlines for anyone planning on eating on a flight and consuming as many calories in air as the number of feet in the flight's cruising altitude are Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Spirit would not provide any nutritional information at all, so it seems pretty obvious that there can't be much (if any) good going on there. Southwest's (and Spirit's) biggest issue is the lack of options in general- none of which are even remotely healthy.

The Future of Airport Security?

2011-11-28T14:18:00.002-08:00

International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently unveiled what it thinks may be the future of airport security- in as early as five to seven years. The early concept stage features a series of tunnels (different levels of security based upon the traveler- "Known Travelers" i.e. those that have undergone a government background test face the least intrusive of these tunnels) that will have x-ray machines, eye scanners, and metal and liquid detectors.

In addition to these neon tunnels, thermal lie-detection may also be implemented (research shows that people that are lying/ making up something on the spot brain activity changes and can be detected thermally). Some passengers can also opt-in to bluetooth tracking in order to get an idea how fast lines are moving and even create passenger profiles that can offer more insight as to what passengers do when in the airport. Perhaps the most sci-fi of the concepts being considered is the utilization of cloned super-sniffer dogs for drug detection (something that has already been going on since 2005 when the dog Chase, a member of drug-dog lore for his immaculate sniffing mechanism, was cloned for the Incheon International Airport in South Korea). The next dog clone is expected to have an uncanny ability to sniff out diseases in humans. Another feature that may become common is an increase in Behavioral Detection Officers, who are able to tell when people are hiding something.

Houston International Airport Immigration

2011-11-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

I cannot say enough good things about the experience I had at the Houston International Airport's (IAH) customs and immigration services. After my flight arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find 12-18 global entry stations- which eliminated what I thought would be another miserable wait time.

Withing 20 minutes (20 minutes!) I was off the plane and to the luggage belt for my bag transfer. To make it completely through immigration in 20 minutes is something I would love to see at every international airport (though I know the chances are slim to none). Perhaps I should connect through IAH more often...

El Salvador: No es mi primera elección de destino

2011-11-28T11:23:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from a stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Salvador. Before I decode my most likely flawed Spanish above Robert Langdon-style, allow me to share some of the knowledge I gathered there (that may or may not be about as accurate as Dan Brown's revelations).

El Salvador has 22 volcanoes, four of which are active, and 14 volcanic lakes (reminds me of that volcano movie with Pierce Brosnan when the old lady jumps ship into a lake- apparently a very shallow one- filling with liquid hot magma and pushes James Bond, Sr. and his crew in a rowboat to safety). The small country also features seven mountain ranges. El Salvador is certainly great to navigate via car, as it is possible to drive north to south or east to west in just four hours.

The national currency was the Colon(!) until the year 2000, but has now adopted the U.S. Dollar. This makes sense because 30% of the population lives on remittance- which means 3 million Salvadorans live and work abroad (mostly in the U.S.) and they send money home. That is a huge portion of El Salvador's economy! Most of the country's population works in agriculture or manufacturing.

The original inhabitants of El Salvador were the Pipil (sounds a lot like "people") Indians. Then the Mayans (their close neighbors) moved in until the Spanish decided to permanently vacation there in the 16th century.

82% of the country's population is Catholic, most of the rest are Protestant- one of the fastest growing religions in all of Latin America.

Security in El Salvador is either awesome (it's not) or terrifying (it is), because everywhere you go, there are "security" with sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, or other types of weapons keeping something safe. These security personnel patrol hotels, parking lots, banks, restaurants... everywhere! Most of them are privately hired, so who knows what type of training they've had.

Perhaps I should be thankful for the hoards of men toting automatic weapons, since many Salvadoran gangs target tourists- and will frequently stab or shoot their victims and take everything from them, leaving them for dead in the streets- a big difference from the typical petty theft that occurs in many tourist-directed crime-heavy cities (I would much rather get pick-pocketed on the metro in Madrid than stabbed and/ or shot for my $120 in El Salvador).

El Salvador must be limbo for retired Blue Bird buses. After their life has passed in other countries, they come here to wait in Purgatory for many years after their prime before they are ultimately laid to rest.

Some taxis are still Datsun B210s- when is the last time anybody has seen one of these for sale? 18 year olds may not have been able to vote.

Some of these things make sense: the country was in a civil war from 1975-1990! which is sure to prevent any country from experiencing a great deal of progress.

Before you go ahead and assume (if you already haven't) that I have nothing all that positive to say about my experience, hear this: El Salvador is trying hard and has many good things going for them like being a hub airport for TACA airlines, but they have a long way to go before they can compete with destinations in Central America like Panama or Costa Rica. At present, I would not recommend traveling there unless it is for a business related reason. El Salvador is not my first choice destination in Central America, but it looks to be on track to being a viable choice for travelers looking for an adventurous experience in a small country.

Dante's Peak! That's the volcano movie I was thinking of.

Europe's Thomas Cook Facing Financial Trouble

2011-11-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Thomas Cook Group, Europe's second-largest tour operator, has announced that it is looking to amend loan terms with its lenders as it is facing a difficult financial situation.

This announcement has sent the company's stock tumbling 75% to about 10 pence (roughly 16 cents) a share on the London Stock Exchange. Reports claim that Thomas Cook's debt was at 900 GBP (about $1.4 billion) at the end of September.

Spirit Airlines Fined by DOT for Deceptive Ad

2011-11-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

The Department of Transportation has fined the discount airline Spirit $25,000 for violating the DOT's rule of not allowing deceptive and unfair advertising due to a billboard and Twitter ad from June.

The billboard ad had large print that advertised cheap fares, with an asterisk next to the seemingly low cost fares alerting viewers to study the fine print at the bottom which stated that "additional taxes, fees, terms and conditions apply." This may seem standard operating procedure for ads that craftily divert attention for actual costs, but this does not comply with the DOT's regulation that the full amount of taxes, fees, and associated conditions be clearly disclosed in full.

Spirit Airlines' Twitter feed was equally deceptive in that it provided a link in the advertisement that lead consumers to Spirit's website, where it was first mentioned that the $9 fare did not include taxes, fees, the stipulation that the ticket be a round trip purchase, and the like.

USA3000 Airline of Apple Vacations to Shut Down

2011-11-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

USA3000, the airline founded by the owners of Apple Vacations, plans to shut down early in 2012. The airline is making arrangements to transfer its route commitments to other airlines. Frontier has pledged to take over USA3000's operations from Chicago to Mexico with no break in service.

Legislation Introduced to Mandate Cheaper Luggage

2011-11-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Travelers' grievances have grown exponentially in the last decade as prices have increased, crowds have grown, and security protocol has become reminiscent of Rubashov's experience in Koestler's Darkness at Noon. The most upsetting thing to many travelers is the outrageous cost of checking luggage. The massive fees have inspired hoards of travelers to push the natural limits of carry on baggage with bags scarcely capable of being pounded into the overhead bin, and more of them.

This phenomenon has caused Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) to introduce legislation that would "guarantee passengers one checked bag without the financial burden of paying a fee, or the headache of trying to fit everything into a carry-on." The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), would allow passengers to check one bag for free and prohibit fees for regular-size carry-on bags. Airlines would also be required to tell passengers about any restrictions on weight, size, and number of bags before they arrive at the airport. In addition, airlines would have to make public the associated fees for preferred seating and different types of checked luggage.

In 2008-2009, airlines collected $3.9 billion in checked luggage fees, even though fewer than one out of four passengers check bags.

China Airlines Joins SkyTeam Alliance

2011-11-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

China Airlines, based out of Taiwan, joined the SkyTeam alliance in September with an impressive ceremony in Taipei, becoming the 15th carrier (and first Taiwanese airline) to join the global alliance. An announcement was made that either Air France or China Airlines will be flying a route between Taipei (TPE) and Paris (CDG) as soon as possible.

Taipei, China Airlines' hub, is home to one of the strongest economies in Asia. With China Airlines' addition, SkyTeam becomes the largest alliance serving the greater China market with hubs in Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), and Taipei. China Airlines also brings three new destinations to the SkyTeam network: Miyazaki (KMI) and Okinawa (NAH) in Japan and Surabaya (SUB) in Indonesia.

Anthony Bourdain Has a New Show: "The Layover"

2011-11-21T09:28:00.001-08:00

Most people know Anthony Bourdain from his popular television show "No Reservations" or his memoir, Kitchen Confidential. His latest project is titled The Layover, and features Bourdain on a short-length visit to a particular city (24 hours or so).

Bourdain, who says he deliberately plans his layovers with care, will visit major travel hubs that travelers will often connect in but may not be staying for more than a few hours. He claims the show will be the first "useful" project he has done, and will showcase unique local places that travelers may not know about (hence, he will not be visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Tower of London in London).

Southwest Airlines to get Reality Television Show on TLC

2011-11-18T15:26:00.000-08:00

Southwest Airlines might do for airlines what Sister Wives did for polygamy. I can't really say whether that is a good thing or not; but, either way, the show will provide viewers with more behind-the-scenes access than you would likely get during a cavity search at the airport.

The 13 half-hour episodes will chronicle the experiences of a few select travelers as well as the chaos involved with operating an airline. Filming begins this week at Baltimore Washington International Airport and Denver International Airport with more airports to be added in the coming weeks, which will provide a great insight as to what it is like to be an airline employee during the busiest travel time of the year. (Too bad there isn't a Southwest employee that moonlights at Target or another retail store that they could profile during the week of Thanksgiving- THAT would be some real life drama.)

No word as of yet when the show will air or what the title will be.

Comtel Air Forces Passengers to Pay More On Board in Order to Continue to Destination

2011-11-17T15:05:00.001-08:00

Hundreds of passengers were stranded for six hours in Vienna on a flight from India to Britain when a Comtel Air flight stopped for fuel on November 15. The chartered plane demanded passengers pay a collective 20,000 GBP (about $31,000) in order to pay for fuel, airport costs, and other unexplained costs in order to continue on to Birmingham, U.K.

For passengers that didn't have enough cash on board, the flight operators were nice enough to make them get off the aircraft, go inside to visit an ATM, and re-board the plane in order to contribute money. Children under two were free, so I guess that is nice of them.

It seems curious why the flight crew would need to collect so much cash from passengers after the flight had already begun it's journey. I didn't know that pilots delivered a briefcase of non-sequential, unmarked bills to the airport before take-off could ensue, but I suppose you do learn something new every day.

According to AP, "Bhupinder Kandra, the airline's majority shareholder, told the Associated Press from Vienna that travel agents had taken the passengers' money before the planes left but had not passed it on to the airline."

It will be interesting to keep an eye on what the consequences- if there are any- of these actions (and the other related incidents that can be found in the article below) are.

View the video captured on the aircraft and read more here: http://news.yahoo.com/airline-passengers-asked-extra-cash-fuel-115831926.html

Chief Executives from Major U.K. Airlines Opposing Air Passenger Duties

2011-11-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Chief executives from Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and the discount airlines easyJet and Ryanair banded together to make a push to get rid of the United Kingdom's pricey air passenger duty.

The general consensus from these executives was that the air passenger duty taxed both tourism and business in the U.K. In the U.K., the air passenger duty is as high as 170 GBP for passengers in first or business class on long flights, and can add considerable costs to the price of an airline ticket that may deter potential customers.

TSA Testing Speedy Military Personnel Airport Security Check-In

2011-11-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

November 15 marked the start of a test run by TSA of providing military personnel expedited screening at airport checkpoints at Monterey Regional Airport in California, with plans to expand the testing to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport in the coming months.

The tests, which will not yield faster check-in processes immediately, are being administered to determine if TSA's technology is compatible with military personnel's Common Access Cards in order to provided efficient, streamlined check-in in the future.

If the program proves to be successful through testing, it will likely be implemented in airports with large quantities of military men and women travelers. The program is part of Pre-Check which recently began trials.

Want to Meet the Person Sitting Next to You on a Flight... Before You Get There?

2011-11-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you might be interested in the free service offered by planely.com which allows members to connect with others that will be on the same flight. The service could be worthwhile if you are interested in sharing a ride from the airport, trying to generate some business/ take advantage of a networking opportunity, or just want to find someone to have interesting conversation with (after a pre-screening).

According to Planely's website, there are three steps to the process (after registering of course).

1. Tell them when and where you are flying

2. They'll tell you who you'll be traveling with (those that are signed up for the service as well) so that you can do a little investigating on LinkedIn and facebook

3. Then it is up to you (or you could leave it to others) to reach out to other members

The service is definitely not for everyone- some prefer headphones and a book or awkwardly snoring 8 inches from your ear- but for those that are intrigued by meeting potentially interesting travelers and securing them as your seatmate, it might be something to look into.

Government Fines American Airlines $900,000 for Tarmac Delays

2011-11-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) fined American Airlines a total of $900,000- $650,000 of which must be paid in the next 30 days to the FAA and up to $250,000 can be credited for refunds, vouchers, and frequent flyer mile awards provided to the passengers on the 15 American Eagle flights that were excessively delayed (in violation of the three hour rule).

The three hour delay rule (namely the steep fines that accompany it- as much as $27,500 per passenger) may be even more disruptive to even more travelers than sitting uncomfortably on the tarmac for 10 hours. Airlines are far more likely to cancel the flight all together if there is concern for being delayed. Better to avoid a huge fine and put passengers out than have to deal with disgruntled passengers AND a massive fine.

According to the Associated Press, "between May 2010 and April 2011, the first 12 months after the time limit was in effect, airlines reported 20 tarmac delays of more than three hours, none of which was more than four hours long. In contrast, during the 12 months before the rule took effect, airlines had 693 tarmac delays of more than three hours, and 105 of the delays were longer than four hours." These number seem great, though they do not reflect the much higher percentage of flights that are canceled as a result (many of which might not have actually experienced any tarmac delays at all)- better safe than sorry.

More on this from AP: http://news.yahoo.com/airline-fine-may-send-flight-cancellations-soaring-222545569.html

United to Install Internet Satellites on Interntational Flights

2011-11-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

United Airlines is set to install satellite-powered internet on long-haul international aircraft. The satellite internet is different from typical aircraft internet because it does not rely on the ground-based towers that typically provide in-flight internet access. The satellite installation is also pricier, heavier, and a longer undertaking than the standard aircraft internet installation, but United is hoping the overseas service will be alluring to international passengers.

Southwest has already made the move to satellite, but does not get a high percentage of passenger usage. United is hoping to utilize the technology to appeal to travelers facing lengthy trips.

The pricing is not yet set, but Lufthansa, one of United's partner airlines, offers internet at a rate of about $15 for one hour and $27 for 24 hours of internet access. It will be interesting to see if the move by United prompts other airlines to adopt this technology (and perhaps make it more affordable).

5 Awesome Airport Lounges

2011-11-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

Thai Airways First Class Lounge, Bangkok

Passengers begin their journey at an exclusive check-in area, so there is virtually no waiting for security and passport control. Once all formalities are complete, golf carts whisk them inside the lounge, where they can relax in semi-private rooms. Travelers can book a spa treatment -- including a 30-minute neck and shoulder or foot massage, or an hour long full body massage -- in their own private spa bungalow.

Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt

This separate terminal, which the airline likens to a small luxury hotel, also has its own exclusive check-in and security checkpoints. Passengers can while away the time before their flight in leather armchairs and sofas or nap in comfy daybeds. Those who wish to relax with a spirit have plenty to choose from, including 80 different brands of whiskey. There is a top-quality restaurant, a cigar lounge, and wonderful shower and bath facilities. Every passenger also gets his or her own personal assistant. Guests are chauffeured to their plane in a Porsche or a Mercedes-Benz.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London

Order a colorful cocktail from the 14-meter (45-foot) bar or indulge in menu selections such as potato and watercress soup, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or duck à l'orange. The cool decor includes a ceiling to floor Japanese water wall and a den with a pool table and video game consoles.

JetQuay Terminal, Singapore

This lounge at Singapore's Changi Airport is not airline-affiliated, so access to it isn't included in the price of your ticket. Rather, it is available to passengers traveling in any class for an extra fee. If you're departing from Singapore, staffers will take care of your baggage, help you with travel formalities, and when it's time for you to depart, drive you to your gate in a buggy. If you're flying into Changi Airport, they will meet you on arrival and help with immigration clearance and luggage. The lounge's amenities include a business center, private meeting rooms, board room, massage chairs, showers, nap rooms and free Internet access.

The Wing, Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge, Hong Kong

This spacious lounge overlooking the terminal and the runway includes The Library, for quiet reading, and The Haven, for dining. The Cabanas offer private bath and shower suites complete with lounge chairs.

Adapted from CNN Travel, visit for more info and pictures: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/10/travel/luxurious-arport-lounges/index.html?hpt=tr_c1

Original article by A. Pawlowski

Michigan State and North Carolina Basketball Game on Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson in San Diego

2011-11-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Quicken Loans Carrier Classic takes place tomorrow night at 4pm PT on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011 (11/11/11!) on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, CA.

The Michigan State University Spartans will face off against the University of North Carolina Tarheels in what is sure to be an exciting game to watch as the players and coaches battle it out on the court in support of the veterans of the United States Military. The two teams will wear camouflage jerseys with USA on the back in support of veterans.

If the name of the carrier sounds familiar, it is likely because this is the name of the ship that buried Osama bin Laden's body at sea.

In attendance will be a very special guest, President Obama- who, of course, will have his choice of seating on either the 7,000 seat outside arena or the 4,000 seat arena being built in the carrier's hanger bay below the flight deck in the event that it rains in typically Sunny San Diego.

For more information on the event: http://quickenloanscarrierclassic.com/

United Airline Flies First Commercial Biofueled Flight

2011-11-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

The information below is being quoted from an article that originally appeared in Travel Daily News

"United Continental Holdings announced that its subsidiary Continental Airlines is operating the first U.S. commercial flight powered by advanced biofuels. Flight 1403, a Boeing 737-800, departs Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport at 10:30 a.m. for Chicago O'Hare International Airport, making United the first U.S. airline to fly passengers using a blend of sustainable, advanced biofuel and traditional petroleum-derived jet fuel."

"Also today, United is announcing it has signed a letter of intent with Solazyme to negotiate the purchase of 20 million gallons of jet fuel per year, derived exclusively from algae oil, for delivery as early as 2014. Solazyme, headquartered in south San Francisco, manufactured the algae oil used on today's flight through its proprietary fermentation process. The end product was then refined outside Houston using renewable jet fuel processing technology from Honeywell's UOP."

"Operating the first U.S. revenue advanced biofuel flight represents a major milestone in Eco-Skies, United's commitment to leading commercial aviation as an environmentally responsible company by taking actions today that shape an environmentally sustainable future. Eco-Skies builds upon United and Continental's solid track record for improving aircraft fuel efficiency and introducing sustainability programs."

"Continental in 2009 made history as the first North American carrier to perform a two-engine aircraft flight demonstration using sustainable biofuels derived from algae and jatropha. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft used in that demonstration, tail number 516, is the same aircraft operating today's flight. In 2010 United conducted the first flight by a U.S. commercial airline using synthetic fuel made from natural gas."

Accomplishments of United Continental Holdings include:
"- The company improved fuel efficiency by more than 32 percent since 1994 by investing in a modern, fuel-efficient fleet and by streamlining its operating procedures. New fuel-efficient aircraft on order, 132 in total for delivery through 2019, include 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus 350s, which are 20 percent more fuel efficient than the older aircraft they will replace. United continues to modify existing aircraft with winglets, improving fuel efficiency by up to five percent.
- United and Continental operate more than 3,600 alternatively fueled or zero-emission ground service equipment vehicles.
- Whenever possible, pilots use innovative flight processes such as continuous descent or tailored arrivals, use only one engine while taxiing and ground power instead of aircraft engines when at the gate, and the airline often uses ground equipment instead of aircraft engines to move aircraft from gate to gate.
- During the last five years the company recycled more than 20 million pounds of aluminum cans, plastic and paper items from waste generated in-flight and in our facilities.
- Advancements in technology, such as paperless flight decks with iPads for pilots and paperless boarding with mobile devices for customers, further reduce environmental impact."

Find the original article here with more information: http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/46197?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=show_page/46197&utm_campaign=TravelDailyMainTitle

President Obama Targets Travel and other Areas for Budget Cuts

2011-11-09T11:45:00.001-08:00

President Obama is continuing to try to find ways around the refusal of Congress to pass his $447 billion Jobs Plan. His latest effort targets cutting government agencies' spending in areas like travel, vehicle purchases, printing costs (by making things available electronically), unused or under-utilized electronics like laptops and phones, and promotional items like coffee mugs and gadgets.

The executive order urges agencies to utilize teleconferences and videoconferences so as to cut back on the amount of spending that goes into training/ conference/ meeting related travel- something that could have a substantial impact on the meeting/ event planning industry.

For an in-depth article, see here: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-signs-order-cut-travel-cellphones-swag-171104060.html

Survey: Best Hotels for Business Travelers

2011-11-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

Business travelers: check out this survey, which ranks chain hotels on a number of key criteria as reported by different demographics of travelers. It is definitely worth checking out- especially if you are a road warrior.

http://www.businesstravelnews.com/uploadedFiles/Research/2011hotelSurvey.pdf

America's Cup in San Diego

2011-11-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

The sailing competition is going to be underway in San Diego between November 12-20- which conveniently coincides with San Diego's Beer Week, which concludes on November 13, and the San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival from November 16-20.

The races held in San Diego are a prelude to the America's Cup Finals, which will be held in San Francisco.

Private Jet Travel Demand Sees Increase

2011-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

After three years of decreased demand for private jet travel, things are starting to look up for service providers as 12% of the wealthiest Americans (those with a net worth of $5 million or more) say they plan on using private jets for travel in 2012- significantly up from 9% in 2010.

The majority of clients that utilize private jets are actually corporate travelers- a base that has continued to grow due to the lowering cost of private jets and the vastly decreased hassle that goes along with it. Corporate travelers, especially when the bill can be charged to an expense account, are drawn to the allure of private jets because it eliminates the loss of time wasted spent haggling with the TSA at busy airports.

For a detailed (and very informative) discussion of this topic, see this article: http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/08/pf/private_jet/index.htm?hpt=tr_c2

Commerical Flights to Resume Between the USA and Cuba

2011-11-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Marazul, a travel agency based in Miami that specializes in travel to Cuba, has partnered with Delta Airlines to restore flights between Havana, Cuba and a selection of U.S. airports as restrictions on travel to Cuba are being eased in the United States.

According to Marazul's website, the direct flight between New York City's JFK International Airport and Havana is scheduled to be restored starting Sunday. In addition, beginning in December Marazul will provide flights from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport that operate weekly.

Tickets must be round-trip and can only be purchased directly from Marazul travel. The chartered flights feature a Boeing 737 operated by crews from Delta.

Not anyone can make the trip, however. Marazul's website states that only passengers that have been duly authorized by the U.S. government to travel to Cuba (including, but not exclusively, those with close relatives in Cuba, official business travelers, professionals, students, and other potential travelers authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control) may do so.

According to CNN, "in September of 2009, OFAC announced it would ease existing restrictions on travel to Cuba, citing President Barack Obama's initiative announced the same year to 'reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country.'"

The story from CNN can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/06/travel/new-york-cuba-flights/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Airline Rankings: Best and Worst for Flight Delays

2011-11-07T09:38:00.001-08:00

With the overall percentage of flights arriving on time at a dismal 78.6 percent, choosing an airline with reliable service is becoming even more essential for travelers. Here are the best and worst airlines for arriving on schedule.

5 WORST:

1. Jet Blue, 72%
2. Comair, 74.6%
3. Atlantic Southeast, 75.2%
4. American Eagle, 75.5%
5. ExpressJet, 76%

5 BEST:

1. Hawaiian, 92.7% (the leader for the past three years)
2. Alaska, 86.9%
3. United, 83.8%
4. AirTran, 83.5%
5. Mesa. 83.4%

For a more detailed description of the study, see this: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-and-worst-airlines-for-delays/1

World's Busiest Airports

2011-11-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Information cited as released by Airports Council International (ACI)
Numbers quoted as passengers per year

International Travelers:

1. London (Heathrow), United Kingdom: 60.9 million
2. Paris, France: 53.15 million
3. Hong Kong: 49.77 million
4. Dubai, UAE: 46.31 million
5. Frankfurt, Germany: 46.3 million
6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 45.13 million
7. Singapore: 40.92 million
8. Incheon, South Korea: 32.94 million
9. Tokyo (Narita), Japan: 32.16 million
10. Bangkok, Thailand: 31.41 million

Total Travelers (International and Domestic):

1. Atlanta, USA: 89.33 million
2. Beijing, China: 73.94 million
3. Chicago, USA: 66.77 million
4. London (Heathrow), UK: 65.88 million
5. Tokyo (Haneda), Japan: 64.21 million
6. Los Angeles, USA: 59.07 million
7. Paris, France: 58.16 million
8. Dallas, USA: 56.9 million
9. Frankfurt, Germany: 53 million
10. Denver, USA: 52.2 million

Fastest Growth (with at Least 5 Million Travelers):

1. Istanbul, Turkey
2. Campinas, Brazil
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4. Charleroi, Belgium
5. Moscow (Sheremetyevo), Russia
6. Belo Horizonte, Brazil
7. Bogota, Colombia
8. Phuket, Thailand
9. Shanghai, China
10. Muscat, Oman

What to do if you are bumped from a flight

2011-11-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a helpful article written by George Hobica: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/04/travel/flight-bumping-tips/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

A few highlights:

Passengers can now collect up to $1,300 for being bumped from a domestic flight if they arrive at their destination more than two hours later than scheduled, under Department of Transportation rules revised earlier this year. (The previous maximum was $800.) Passengers can also get as much as $650 (up from $400) if they get to their destination within one to two hours of the scheduled time according to the new rule.

Elite tier members of an airline's frequent flier program are typically less likely to be bumped. You should also know that the folks in the cheap seats have lower priority on some airlines than the ones who paid full fare. So if you're a very frequent flier at the highest tier of your airline's program and/or paid a full fare (or are a business or first class passenger) you're more likely to get on board than the poor chap who paid next to nothing for his coach ticket.

If the airline won't issue you a seat assignment when you buy your ticket, that's a red flag and you might want to choose another flight or carrier.

Passengers should insist on a check instead of a travel voucher (a free round-trip flight, for example), which many airlines typically offer, because vouchers come with restrictions and can be difficult to redeem (you sometimes can only cash them in at the airport).

If your ticket does not show a fare (for example, a frequent-flier award ticket or a ticket issued by a consolidator), your denied boarding compensation is based on the lowest cash, check or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service (e.g., coach, first class) on that flight.

If you're bumped but arrive at your destination within an hour of the original time, there's no compensation owed.

Often, a seat may open up at the last minute if someone does not board. Also, it's usually only the gate agent at the airport who can handle the booking for the next flight and issue compensation. Calling the airline's toll-free number will not get you anywhere. If the gate agent instructs you to go to a customer service counter to be rebooked and/or receive compensation, then you can try calling the 1-800 number for assistance, but compensation is almost always issued at the airport by the agent who handled the flight.

Avoid peak travel days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are best) and seasons (the day before Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday periods are notorious for being bump-prone) when planes tend to be jammed full.

Of course, the easiest thing you can do is book way ahead and arrive early. Way early. Don't buy a ticket if there are no assigned seats available. And be loyal: attain some status in your airline's frequent flier program and you're less likely to be ill-treated.

Best Fried Chicken in America!

2011-11-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

From Yahoo and Food & Wine:

Two Sisters Kitchen; Jackson, MS
Pies-N-Thighs; Brooklyn, NY
Momofuku Noodle Bar; New York, NY
Harold's Chicken Shack; Chicago, IL
Central Michel Richard; Washington, DC
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles; Los Angeles, CA
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack; Nashville, TN
Mama Dip's Kitchen; Chapel Hill, NC
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill; Las Vegas, NV
Pine State Biscuits; Portland, OR

I am going to have to add a personal favorite to the list- The Hitching Post in Washington, DC (and, no, not the same Hitching Post from Sideways).

Original post with pictures and descriptions: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40863020;_ylt=AtuISMuh3YyRt5jeHKL0_VKhpYMA

Statue of Liberty Turns 125 Years Old!

2011-10-28T15:31:00.001-07:00

Today marks the 125th anniversary since the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York City. Gifted to the United States by France in 1886 and designed by Gustave Eiffel, the Statue of Liberty has over the years maintained her message of freedom, given hope to millions in search of the ever-more-elusive American Dream, and served as an unflinching and powerful symbol of the strength of the United States.

The 151 foot statue (a little more than double if you include the colossal concrete pedestal on which she stands) is slated to undergo an extensive, year-long renovation project, estimated to cost $27 million, beginning tomorrow October 29th, though it is not likely she will be polished clean back to her original copper color, as the green oxidation helps to protect the metal underneath- and plus, it looks way cooler. (Old) Lady Liberty's shell is made up of copper about the thickness of two pennies (with Honest Abe face to face).

What Happens to the Items TSA Confiscates at Security Checkpoints?

2011-10-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the greatest curiosities of the airport experience is what actually happens to the items many travelers are forced to surrender (unless said traveler is able to sacrifice the time necessary to take the item(s) all the way back to his or her car- if indeed the traveler drove a personal vehicle to the airport and willingly became subject to the absurd parking fees- or, perhaps the traveler might opt to mail back the item to their home from the airport) at airport security?

I have drawn on an article from msnbc for the figures below.

"Since 9/11, the TSA has detected approximately 50 million prohibited items, including 4,600 firearms, during airport checkpoint screening." It is not all that surprising that "hazardous materials are disposed of, and dangerous or illegal items such as guns and explosives are turned over to law enforcement," but what about everyday items?

In the event that they are not saved by the passenger in one of the options listed above and surrendered, as is most often the case, there are a couple of different scenarios that might play out. Typically, the items end up being donated to state governments “to be auctioned off or sold as revenue. TSA in no way profits from surrendered or lost items at the checkpoint.”

Though TSA might not profit from the sale of these goods when they are not donated, there are certainly states that do make a considerable profit. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services for example receives hoards of excess items from New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports among others. The items are sorted and stored at a warehouse and then generally auctioned off in lots online and have generated around $700,000 for the state since 2004 (about $100,000 a year ).

Here is the link for the original article: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/24/8470150-what-happens-to-items-left-at-security-checkpoints

Can't Afford a $200,000 Trip on Virgin Galactic?

2011-10-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

Then perhaps Space Tourism Curacao is for you! Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) has invested in a new technology for supersonic flight along with an outside investor who contributed an additional $164 million. The proposed craft is essentially a reusable spaceship (as opposed to the traditional engine-drops-off-after-getting-into-space spaceship of your parent's- or your- generation).

The move is the first like it since British Airways stopped using the Concorde (which flew around 2.5 million passengers during its use) in 2003. The Concorde caused discomfort to passengers (and people on Earth) as a result of the loud sonic boom that occurred once the craft surpassed the speed of sound, something KLM and investors are hoping can be averted with the use of new technology.

Though the aircraft- named the Lynx- does not yet exist, roughly 40 passengers have already shelled out $90,000 for tickets, which beats the price of Virgin Galactic I guess... In order to travel on the craft, passengers have to undergo a physical (as your body needs to be prepared to travel at speeds at or close to 13, 750 mph).

Theoretically, the craft could take passengers from any point on Earth to any other in two hours or less. The plan for the main spaceport is for Curacao in the Caribbean, so hopefully that is your preferred departure point if you are planning on snatching up a ticket- because regular departures and arrivals into major cities are not anticipated until at least a couple of decades from now.

Here is a pretty absurd video showcasing the non-existent craft: http://vimeo.com/25968581

Best Bathrooms in the USA!

2011-10-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

From Yahoo/ U.S. News and World Report, By Emily H. Bratcher

#1 The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois

#2 Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, Virgina

#3 Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale, Arizona

#4 Don's Johns Luxury Presidential Restroom Trailer, Anywhere, USA

#5 Snowbasin Resort, Huntsville, Utah

5 Runner-Ups:

The Joule Poule at The Joule, Dallas, Texas

Habana Outpost, Brooklyn, New York

Castello di Amorosa Winery, Calistoga, California

Main Street Station Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Ninja New York, New York City

To see pictures and read descriptions of the features of these bathrooms in case you haven't happened to have visited all 10 of them, see: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40857604

Delta's Economy Comfort Being Added to Entire Fleet

2011-10-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Delta recently introduced a premium-economy cabin, called Economy Comfort (which is much like United's Economy Plus), on lenghty international flights. The passengers traveling in Economy Comfort are treated to extra legroom and priority boarding. The feedback was so positive the airline has decided to extend the Economy Comfort seats to its entire fleet (more than 550 aircraft and 250 regional jets). This expansion is the latest in Delta's $2 billion (plus) enhancement.

AirBerlin to Increase U.S. Presence

2011-10-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Starting in the summer of 2012, AirBerlin will introduce a new service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Berlin (SXF) - making AirBerlin the first carrier to service this route. The service will not be offered every day, but will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday. AirBerlin will also be increasing flight frequencies between New York (JFK) and Berlin and Düsseldorf (DUS), San Francisco (SFO) to Düsseldorf, and Miami (MIA) to Düsseldorf, further connecting the United States and Germany.

Traveling to Moscow?

2011-10-25T16:19:00.001-07:00

If you are going to be in or around Moscow in the near or distant future, make sure not to miss a visit to the Bolshoi Theatre. The famed Bolshoi Theatre is finally set for its grand reopening this Friday after six years and a reported $700 million restoration process (though some analysts and construction companies claim that the price is probably closer to twice as high in reality) that included re-gold-leafing carved moldings that were stripped during the Communist era and restoring and improving the once world-class acoustics of the theatre.

The interior and exterior of the theatre, founded in 1776 by Empress Catherine the Great (yes, the Bolshoi Theatre is as old as America!), is striking despite heavy use and neglect during the Cold War. Ticket prices have been many times higher than they have been in the past for the upcoming performances, but it is likely they will return to normal after the initial excitement to attend a performance has waned a bit.

For more details on the renovation process and the reopening: http://news.yahoo.com/russias-bolshoi-theatre-set-grand-reopening-143836630.html

Flooding in Thailand Shuts Down Bangkok's Don Muang Airport

2011-10-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

Thai flood waters have breached the barriers erected to protect Don Muang Airport, the second largest in Thailand after Suvarnabhumi Airport- also in Bangkok. Don Muang Airport serves primarily domestic flights. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's main international arrival and departure point, has not (yet) been affected by the flooding and is continuing to operate flights as normal.

The flooding could cause up to five feet of water in the capital's lowest areas, though the 9 million residents of Bangkok have been largely unaffected thus far. The flooding of Don Muang Airport adds to the severity of the ongoing Thai flood which has claimed the lives of 366 people and flooded one third of Thailand over the past three months.

If Don Muang Airport floods, it would further aggravate emergency operations, as the Thai government has recently set up the emergency Flood Relief Operations Center and converted a terminal into a shelter for misplaced individuals.

The closing of the airport has caused an increased sense of chaos and added even more uncertainty as to how the Thai government will be able to avert further damage and provide disaster relief to those afflicted by the flood.

For a more in-depth article on the situation, see this: http://news.yahoo.com/thai-floods-shut-bangkoks-second-largest-airport-164107578.html

Photos of ANA Boeing 787 Dreamliner

2011-10-25T09:31:00.001-07:00

Here is a (very long) link to some great photos of an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Looks like a great aircraft.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/boeing-unveils-first-dreamliner-1312704906-slideshow/;_ylt=AnLZgcex4kxoETP_epLf6R2w73QA;_ylu=X3oDMTRkdmphMXMxBG1pdANCdXNpbmVzcyBGZWF0dXJlZCBMZWZ0IFJhaWwEcGtnA2IyNzA3NzY4LWU5OGItMzEzMC1hNzRhLWQ2NzVkNjBjOWY5ZgRwb3MDMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFGZWF0dXJlZExpc3QEdmVyAzQ4ZjhjZDE2LWZmMTctMTFlMC1iMjBlLTJmZjU1Mzk1NjdhMA--;_ylg=X3oDMTJybG9mdnZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDMDBiNmIwODQtNmVhMy0zZGI3LTk5MzctZDk2YzIyNDhiYzU4BHBzdGNhdANidXNpbmVzcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Fboeing-unveils-first-dreamliner-1312704906-slideshow%252Fbusiness-class-seats-board-first-nippon-airways-ana-photo-094202529.html

Loaded Gun Falls Out of Checked Luggage at LAX

2011-10-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

A loaded handgun fell out of a checked bag being loaded onto an airliner for an Alaska Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport.

The TSA claims (rightly, though pretty non-sensibily) that identifying firearms in checked bags is not the agency's job. I suppose this makes a little sense, since it would be difficult to use the firearm from your seat when the bag is stowed elsewhere in the plane... but come on! There are a lot of "what ifs" that could be implanted into this scenario that are worrisome. TSA says the bag passed explosives screening. Maybe it's time for an equipment update?

The passenger was questioned and then later allowed to board his flight.

Best Major Airlines for Business Travel

2011-10-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

Business Travel News publishes annual rankings of the major airlines for business travel, which can be telling signs of on airline's overall quality for travelers. This year's results are based on a poll of 406 travel managers and buyers who spend at least $500,000 a year on flights booked in the United States. The rankings only include the five largest domestic airlines.

Here are the 5 ranked from best to worst according to BTN's airline score, which is comprised of data gathered from 10 different categories:

1. Delta Airlines*
BTN airline score: 3.14

2. United Airlines/ Continental
BTN airline score: 3.12

3. US Airways
BTN airline score: 3.07

4. American Airlines
BTN airline score: 2.94

5. Southwest
BTN airline score: 2.9

*This is Delta's first time at the number one spot.

For a more detailed report of this information, see this: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44876792/ns/business-us_business/

Southwest Airlines 3Q Losses Due to Fuel Hedges

2011-10-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

Southwest Airlines experienced losses of $140 million for the third-quarter, its first loss in two years. Last year in the same quarter, Southwest made profits of $205 million. A portion of this loss can be chalked up to Southwest's purchase of AirTran Airways in May 2011, a $1 billion purchase. Southwest is already the most flown airline by U.S. passengers.

The major factor in the difficult quarter for Southwest is due to fuel hedges- like an insurance policy against unforgiving spikes in oil prices. High fuel costs forced Southwest to spend $1.59 billion in fuel for the quarter, a 71% increase from last year's figure. Southwest spent an average $3.23 a gallon on fuel, up from $2.47 in the previous year.

Southwest has been saving money by re-negotiating AirTran's contracts and expects to be able to save $400 million a year once completely worked out. Overall, Southwest is faring quite well- especially when compared to other North American airlines like American Airlines which reported losses of $162 million in the third-quarter, its 14th quarter out of the past 16 that incurred losses.

For a more detailed analysis: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Southwest-posts-3Q-loss-on-apf-2592141335.html?x=0

United to Receive 50 Boeing Dreamliner 787 Aircraft

2011-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

United Airlines is scheduled to begin using 50 Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft in 2012. United will be the first North American airline to receive the aircraft. The final assembly has just been completed and all that is left to do is configure the cabins, install the engines, and paint them.

According to Boeing's website, the 787 Dreamliner aircraft are "super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. They will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplanes of their size."

For more on the Dreamliner fleet and detailed specs: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/background.html

Lufthansa's New Seats

2011-10-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Lufthansa's relatively new slim airline seats have proved to be popular, and for good reason.

According to Lufthansa's website, the new seats are lighter with each seat now weighing 10.87 kg, a 30 percent reduction in weight. As a result, Lufthansa is able to use less fuel and produce fewer emissions, which is better for the environment- and passengers.

The new seats provide "more knee room thanks to a slim backrest and less voluminous seat padding." The new seats allow Lufthansa to increase the number of seats on an aircraft by 8% without infringing at all on passengers' legroom. The seats are made of quality leather and perforated to maintain breathability.

Egypt's Tourism Industry Recovering Despite Political Unrest

2011-10-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Though violence has continued in Egypt, tourists have been gradually returning since the initial outbreak. Numbers are still dismal in comparison to the state of the industry in the year prior, but there is certainly encouraging news for those who depend on tourism to make a living.

The violence in Egypt is the result of Egyptian politics; as a result, tourists are not targeted- though it is still something to consider when thinking of visiting a country undergoing difficult political transitions.

Here is an article from travelweekly regarding the tourism situation in Egypt in more depth: http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Egypt-tourism-recovery-continues/

SPACE TOURISM! Virgin Galactic "Spaceport" Dedicated in New Mexico

2011-10-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

Richard Branson, the billionaire behind the massive Virgin Group, attended the dedication for the world's first commercial spaceport for Virgin Galactic in a desert region of New Mexico today. Around 450 people have already purchased the $200,000 tickets (down payments start at $20,000 for anyone interested), about $90 million for those tickets alone once the bills are fully paid.

Branson expressed hopes that enough powered test flights can be completed by the end of 2012 to ensure that those eagerly awaiting their vacation to space can finally board the spacecraft after years of agonizing waiting. Hopefully the price of space tourism comes down a little after a few... decades, centuries? Hopefully the concept of competition in the free market applies to the space tourism industry.

Gordon Ramsay Update- Goodbye, Dubai

2011-10-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

Gordan Ramsay will no longer be consulting for the restaurant Verre in Dubai, his first international restaurant. The only details given by Gordon Ramsay Holdings were that the deal was scrapped after a review of commercial operations. His company's restaurant venues have taken a number of substantial financial hits in the past; celebrity cheffing is not always a guarantee in the restaurant business.

Hotels Inside of Airports Becoming More Common

2011-10-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Airports have evolved into substantial commercial centers in recent decades with expanding restaurant, bar, and shopping options. The recent trend of on-site hotels has made some major airports even more encompassing (next they'll have elected leaders and their own form of currency).

The chain Yotel, with locations in major European hubs like London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, provides travelers with the option of renting a room by the hour as needed (not quite the same as other hourly motel options I don't think, but in Amsterdam, who knows?) or for the entire night. A four hour block costs about $45 and an overnight stay runs at roughly $90.

Other hotels inside of airports include the Hyatt Regency inside the Orlando airport, the Marriott in the Tampa airport, and the Sheraton in the Bradley airport in Windsor Locks, Conn.

These higher-end hotel chains have extensive plans to continue to expand the hotel-attached-to-your-terminal market even further. Msnbc reports, "last year, Hilton Hotels & Resorts opened a 320-room hotel inside Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in China"- and visitors can be sure to visit one of the seven restaurants and bars, 21 meeting rooms, spa, fitness center, and cigar bar.

According to msnbc, "the Hilton chain expects to open hotels at JFK airport in New York and the Frankfurt airport in Germany in December and three more hotels inside airports in Nigeria, in Ghana and in Alberta, Canada, by 2014." This market may prove to be particularly popular for business travelers with little to no time to partake in anything touristy, those with gruelingly long layovers, and people just wanting a shower and a place to freshen up between flights or before a big meeting after arrival.

Find more details here: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/11/8271262-more-hotels-opening-in-airports

RyanAir to Eliminate Toilets from Aircraft?

2011-10-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has attempted to jaunt across Europe through the air on an extreme budget has probably come in contact with the notoriously stripped-down service (and obscenely cheap cost) of RyanAir. For those who haven't and may be tempted to use the lavatory during a flight, you might want to avoid this carrier and instead opt for (the slightly classier) EasyJet.

RyanAir CEO Michael O'Leary has proposed removing two of the fleet's three on board toilets so as to add six additional seats (RyanAir already packs in the maximum 189 seats onto its Boeing 737-800 airplanes) in order to reduce ticket prices by about five percent per passenger- pretty measly considering the fares are as low as 9 GBP/ EUR (but are also accompanied by substantial credit card and online booking fees). I'll keep my 45p and keep the option open for multiple restrooms.

I suppose there is a reason passengers choose the ridiculously low-priced airline, but when will enough be enough? O'Leary has famously proposed other cost-cutting measures like offering standing-room only seats on flights, charging for toilet usage, and cutting out co-pilots, so I guess this isn't that outrageous.

DOT Proposing Increase in Accessibility to Air Passengers with Disabilities

2011-10-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Department of Transportation may require airlines and travel providers to provide non-discriminatory accessibility to travelers with disabilities. According to the Census Bureau, here are an estimated 50 million American's with a disability (roughly 1 in 6), many of which face significant barriers when navigating air -and other forms of- travel.

According to msnbc.com, the proposed updates to be made include: requiring airports to "adopt an accessibility standard that mirrors the one the Department of Justice put in place for automated teller machines, which must now have Braille instructions and buttons, headphone jacks (for verbal instructions) and plenty of room around the units to allow physical access for people using wheelchairs and other assistive devices."

Msnbc also reports that in addition to airports updating their physical accessibility, "carriers and travel agents would have up to two years from the roll-out of the regulations to update or redesign their websites. While they do that, DOT would keep in place regulations requiring carriers to make any discounted Web-based fares and amenities available — at no extra charge — to travelers with disabilities who cannot use a carrier's inaccessible website."

This is not the first time these types of proposals have been made, and they are typically met with opposition from airlines and the like who are hesitant to spend the money to provide accessible devices and websites. This time around is no different in terms of opposition, but the Department of Transportation estimates that a reduction in the number of assistance calls due to inaccessible websites will result in savings of $11.8 million over 10 years and that $45.9 million would be saved by airlines in labor costs, making arguments citing increased costs difficult to maintain.

Find the original article here: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/11/8259446-dot-wants-more-accessible-airline-websites-kiosks

Free Round Trip Airfare to Japan?

2011-10-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

In the months following the series of devastating events that have befallen Japan, tourism to the country has been cut in half- causing further financial difficulty for the nation's damaged tourism industry.

The Japan Tourism Agency has put forth a plan to attract potential visitors that may be hesitant to visit the earthquake-ravished country by offering 10,000 free round trip air tickets to those willing to blog -and discuss on other social media sites- about their experience in Japan. Participants will be required to pay for their own accommodation, meals, etc. on the trip.

The goal is to get people talking about Japan in a positive light- and who better to listen to than trusted online sources? (vs. a country's tourist board who of course would say the country is a safe place to visit.)

If the plan is adopted, the tickets will be available to be claimed as early as April 2012.

Link to Japan Tourism Agency: http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/

Visit These Travel Sites While You Still Can

2011-10-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

10 places to see that won't be around forever:

1. Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras

2. Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, Pakistan

3. Everglades, Florida

4. Old City of Jerusalem, Israel

5. Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, Georgia

6. Atsinanana Rainforest, Madagascar

7. Samarra Archaeological City, Iraq

8. Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, Uganda

9. Medieval Monuments, Kosovo, Serbia

10. Belize Barrier Reef

For more details and pictures of each location visit the original link from Travel & Leisure and Yahoo!: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40757729

6 Lurking Foreign Car-Rental Fees You Might Not Know About

2011-10-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

1.) Premium Station Fee- often applies to places you would naturally pick up a rental car: major airports/ train stations.

Cost: Varies- percentage of the rental fee (example: 20% of the cost in Germany) or a flat rate (example: about $57 in Spain).

2.) Crossing a Country Border- (example: picking a car up in Rome and dropping it in Paris)

Cost: Varies- can be as low as $70 and as high as $4,000 depending on how far you travel between pick-up and drop-off locations.

3.) Road Tax/ Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF)- a permit/ license for driving in Europe

Cost: Unavoidable, but not bank-breaking, about $5/ day.

4.) Late Return- bringing the car back more than 29 minutes past your scheduled return time

Cost: Returning 30 minutes late will result in a charge for an additional full day!

5.) Winter Tires- essential for icy European roads- make sure to request them in advance even though you'll have to pay extra for them (better to spend a few extra bucks than spiral out of control on the Autobahn)

Cost: Varies- about $4-$20 dollars a day (maxes out at $170 for the trip).

6.) Non-Full Gas Tank- not making sure the gas tank is full before dropping off your vehicle

Cost: Usually a fee ($12 for Avis in France) in addition to the outrageous (and then further inflated by the car-rental company) per-liter of gas cost in Europe.

This list is from Budget Travel. Here is the original link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/travel/foreign-car-rental-fees/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Heavy-Duty Article about Boeing Jetliner Air Safety Suit Summed-Up

2011-10-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

A former flight attendant settled a case (an undisclosed settlement) with Boeing over what she claims to be a faulty aircraft design (there have been people speaking out about this since the 50s, but most industry experts maintain that the air people breathe while flying is completely safe). The woman, Terry Williams, claims the default has resulted in memory loss, severe headaches, and tremors that have left her unable to work.

Though rare, the passengers and crew in at least 1 in about 28,000 flights (roughly as many that operate in one day) are exposed to small amounts of harmful toxins like tricresyl phosphates (TCPs), carbon monoxide, and others that can sometimes lead to health risks.

The toxins enter the cabin's air through the plane's system of "bleeding" in air that is pumped through the jet's engine, cooled via air conditioners, and mixed with the cabin's existing air (the air in the entire cabin is replaced every two to three minutes with this outside air).

In far greater detail from msnbc, which includes a great graphic about how the air bleeding works: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44777304/ns/travel-news/

Golden Gate Bridge Celebrating 75th Anniversary Next Year

2011-10-07T12:15:00.001-07:00

Need a reason to visit the historic, hip city of San Francisco (other than a desire for delicious eats and blustery weather)?

Join the 75th anniversary celebration of Joseph Strauss' 1.2 mile-long suspension bridge in San Francisco on 26-27 May, 2012. (Be sure to be prepared to pay the bridge's $6 cash fare on your trip to San Francisco!)

The bridge was opened in 1937 and has remained an engineering masterpiece ever since.

To learn more about the celebration (and to find ways to get involved), visit: http://www.goldengatebridge75.org/

Picture from: http://thebesttraveldestinations.com/golden-gate-bridge-san-francisco-usa/

TSA Pat Downs Out of Control?

2011-10-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

Lori Dorn, a breast cancer patient who underwent a bilateral mastectomy operation (tissue connectors for reconstruction at a later date) in April was refused her plea to retrieve her medical documentation of this from her purse and was forced to undergo "humiliating" breast exam by a TSA agent in front of the other travelers and employees in the area during her movement through airport security.

TSA claims it will use this unfortunate occurrence as a learning experience and provide further training to agents, but TSA seems to be having a particularly difficult time with treating cancer patients respectfully (see article at bottom).

In more detail, from Yahoo/ Associated Press: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/breast-cancer-patient-tsa-pat-down-humiliating-174918023.html

95-year-old cancer patient's airport security ordeal- From Yahoo's The Lookout: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/tsa-defends-search-elderly-cancer-stricken-woman-florida-133354742.html

FAA's New $2.1 Billion Air Traffic System Held Back by Software Problems

2011-10-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

The article from the Associated Press is pretty lengthy, so here are a few key paragraphs:

"FAA officials have predicted the agency's NextGen modernization program will be as revolutionary for civil aviation as was the advent of radar six decades ago. It's actually a collection of new programs aimed at moving planes faster and more efficiently that will markedly change almost every major aspect of today's air traffic system. Those changes are considered critical to enabling the system to absorb substantial predicted increases in air traffic without becoming paralyzed by congestion."

"The troubled $2.1 billion software program is the main tool air traffic controllers will use to identify and track aircraft, except when planes are immediately approaching and departing airports. It was supposed to have been completed by the end of last year, but the FAA now doesn't expect to be finished until 2014, at a cost overrun of $330 million, Scovel said."

"Some of ERAM's problems have previously been made public, including glitches that incorrectly identify planes and interfere with the ability of controllers to pass along responsibility for tracking a plane from one control center to another."

"But the problem may be more extensive than the FAA has previously acknowledged. Scovel said his office has found similar problems in another critical FAA computer system that shares the same aircraft tracking software. That system is used by controllers to track planes as they approach and depart airports."

'"ERAM's persistent problems have raised concerns about the overall design of the system," he said in his testimony.'

"The FAA has focused much of its initial NextGen efforts on improving the flow of air traffic at congested airports in 21 major metropolitan areas. However, the agency has been slow in developing the flight procedures that will allow airlines to save fuel and time by flying shorter, more direct routes, Scovel said. The FAA did a study that identified ways to streamline the process for deploying new procedures, but agency officials estimate it would take five years just to put the streamlining initiatives in place, he said."

By Joan Lowy of the Associated Press: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44785250/ns/travel-news/

Businesses that Offer Wi-Fi Being Sued by "Patent Troll"

2011-10-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Innovatio IP Ventures has already sued department stores, restaurants and coffee shop chains and is now suing hotel chains including Marriott, Hyatt, Wyndham and Best Western for using/ providing Wi-Fi (individuals have not been included in the suit as of yet).

Find the article here from Techland (TIME), by Jared Newman: http://techland.time.com/2011/10/04/wi-fi-patent-troll/

New Checked Bag Fees from Delta

2011-10-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

Delta has added some considerable checked luggage fees.

Here are a couple examples of the fees:

Flights leaving the United States/ Canada or Mexico, the Caribbean, South America (excluding Brazil), or Central America to Europe are subject to a $60 online/ $75 at the airport fee for a second checked bag (no fee for the first).

Flights departing from and staying within the United States and Canada are subject to a fee of $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second bag.

Find the complete set of details on their Baggage Allowances page: http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/checked/index.jsp

TSA to Begin Limited Trials of its "Trusted Traveler" Program Today

2011-10-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

"TSA PreCheck" will be unveiled for select passengers- those departing Atlanta and Detroit as Delta passengers and travelers departing from Miami and Dallas on American Airlines- starting today. According to CNN, in addition to those passengers, the "program will be open to participants in Custom and Border Protection's Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS" (at those same airports). The program is only available to U.S. citizens and is completely voluntary.

The program will not save everyone in it from the possibility of being randomly screened in order to maintain a sense of unpredictability in the security process (and will not eliminate other forms of airport security such as "intelligence gathering and analysis, explosive-detection canine teams, federal air marshals, closed-circuit television monitoring and behavior detection officers"), but should still significantly shorten security-line wait times.

The program is slated to expand in July 2012 to include United, Southwest, JetBlue, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines (and will include additional U.S. airports, once they are operational).

Here is the full article from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/04/travel/trusted-traveler-program/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

5 Tips for First-Time China Travelers

2011-10-03T11:30:00.001-07:00

Here is a list from CNN/ Lonely Planet that offers sound tips for anyone going (or considering going) to China.

1.) Before your trip, prepare for the language barrier by taking some courses in Mandarin or at least taking some time to learn key phrases. Also, don't leave without having a quality English-Chinese and Chinese-English dictionary for when you are in a pinch or need to make sure you know what is going on (also consider utilizing your smart phone and downloading a language translator app like Google Translate). Another tip- carry business cards in Chinese for places you want to go (like your hotel) in case you need to ask for directions or take a cab.

2.) Don't try to see all of China in one trip. It's impossible (unless your trip lasts several years). Pick a region or providence and stay there to really get a chance to experience it.

3.) Plan your trip according to the weather in that particular area. China is a massive country, so the weather varies throughout season to season uniquely in each corner of the country.

4.) Use public transportation. China is a great place to utilize public transport and doing so allows you to experience life as the locals do.

5.) Eat! Lots! China is filled with interesting and delicious cuisine just waiting to be slurped up (you might want to dedicate some time to practicing with chopsticks while you are learning how to say hello, goodbye, and thank you in Mandarin).

For the original post, see here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/03/travel/china-first-timers-lp/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Tips from MSNBC on How to Get Some Sleep on a Flight

2011-09-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some tips on how to capture some too-often elusive sleep on an airplane (not that any of them are exceptionally mind-blowing... but still worth a look).

1.) Don’t drink caffeinated coffee, tea, soda or eat chocolate (or anything else with caffeine) for six to eight hours before a flight or during one.

2.) Bring earplugs and an eye shade to block out light and sound (some airlines hand these out). Pack a pillow and a blanket- or use the airline provided ones, though they are definitely not as comfy- in order to stay warm, as your body temperature naturally drops when you sleep.

3.) Don't take a sleeping pill- it doesn't do much good, and doctors advise against it on flights due to its potentially adverse effects on your health.

4.) Take advantage of airline services that promote friendlier sleeping conditions (they vary by airline/ flight). For example- some airlines offer a variety of on board sleep aids, including mood lighting, “do not disturb” stickers, and other amenities,

or upgrade to business or first class- many of these seats can now be turned into flat, horizontal beds and make you feel less like a sardine,

(or check out something like Air New Zealand's "Skycouch," in economy which lets three adjoining seats morph into one giant couch-like seat).

5.) Trick yourself- do things you would normally do at home before bed like: brush your teeth, change your clothes (into something more like pajamas if you really want to mimic your home routine) or whatever else you typically do (so long as it is legal to do on a crowded airplane of course!).

Find the original story here: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/28/8014756-cant-sleep-on-a-plane-tips-to-help-you-catch-a-few-zzzs

Want to Pretend You're Camping Without The Hassle of Actually Camping?

2011-09-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Perhaps "Glamping" (glamous camping?) is just what you need.

It basically provides the allusion of roughing it in the wild, but with all the comforts of a hotel room. Instead of staying in a (roomy!) 14.58 square foot tent that takes 2 hours to construct- if you are lucky enough to have all the poles and stakes with you in the devilishly undersized tent bag, and something other than a shoe to drive them into the solid clay ground on which you will be sleeping with little to no padding other than the 2 centimeters of the underside of your sleeping bag- with a luxuriously high 4.5 foot high ceiling, consider "camping out" in a "tent" with hardwood floors, hot running water, plumbing, possibly a kitchenette, king-size mattress, and all the other elements missing on your average camping trip.

Of course, for the price of a glamptrip, you could stay in a five star hotel somewhere... but that takes away from the authenticity of the experience of being out in the elements- with hardwood floors and a stove.

For more information on this (and some pictures of particularly inviting glampsites, check out: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/travel/luxury-camping-glamping/index.html?hpt=tr_c1

Another Alaska Money Pit?

2011-09-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

Remember the $400 million plan from 2005 that was deemed the "Bridge to Nowhere" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravina_Island_Bridge) in Alaska? Well, it appears a smaller cousin of that plan has recently emerged.

This time, instead of $400 million being proposed for a handful of people, at least it is only roughly $77 million (the main costs being $64 million for a 4,500 foot-long runway and $11-13 million for a... HOVERCRAFT!- that has never produced any results in the past except for being a guaranteed funding drain). Why is a hovercraft part of this plan? Because the proposed runway isn't even on the same island as the residents it would benefit- it would be situated on a nearby island (though helicopters or a road connecting the two islands are also being considered if the plan gets the go-ahead).

The location of this new project would benefit Akutan, a remote island village in the Aleutian chain, with a year-round population of, oh, 100 people (but don't worry, that number increases ten-fold in the summer to about 1,000 when Trident Seafoods processing plant, the largest such plant in North America, is in operation (they are also in line to contribute $1 million to the plan).

Of the $64 million for the runway, $59 million would come from federal funds and $5 million from state funding.

According to CNN and Peninsula Vice President Brian Carricaburu, "air service to Akutan is now provided by World War II-era amphibious aircraft operated by Peninsula Airways. Those are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain."

Carricaburu also says, "the runway could cut the government's costs in one way. Peninsula Airways routes to Akutan are now subsidized by about $700,000 annually under the federal Essential Air Service program. Using bigger, more efficient aircraft could bring that cost down."

For more from CNN: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/28/a-64-million-runway-for-no-one-in-alaska/

The 4 Most Likely Reasons Your Luggage has Vanished!

2011-09-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

In no particular order of frequency, though organized in occurrences ranging from probably your fault to pure smite:

1.) You forgot to pick up your luggage upon landing

2.) The routing label gets damaged

3.) Your bag is loaded onto the wrong plane

4.) The airline attendant types in the wrong destination code

Here is an article from Budget Travel that discusses these four common errors and provides tips (though somewhat exhausting ones) on how to not be one of the 3.57 passengers per 1,000 that lose their luggage: http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/4-most-common-reasons-airlines-lose-luggage,7558/?page=1&src=artrc

MMM... Foreign Fast-Food!

2011-09-27T14:25:00.001-07:00

For those of you out traveling the world for either leisure or business, and on a budget, consider checking out these popular overseas fast-food chains (so no, Tim Horton's at the airport in Canada doesn't count). It is a cost-efficient and (usually) deliciously effective way to explore local cuisine while on the go.

From CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/travel/foreign-fast-food-bt/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

(Some of) The World's Most Incredible Bridges

2011-09-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a list from Forbes/ Yahoo: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40712081

Good News, Gordon Ramsay Fans!

2011-09-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Gordon Ramsay is set to star in a new Fox reality show, Hotel Hell, where he will go around helping [AKA screaming in a mutant form of English, spitting vulgar language, and rapidly transforming his face into a radish red color- superb television] struggling hotels, B&Bs, etc to try to make them over into successful properties.

I am an adamant watcher of his shows- hello, Kitchen Nightmares! So count me in as a viewer.

Here is more on the story: http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/09/21/fgordon-ramsay-hotel-hell/

The World's 10 Most Visited Tourist Attractions; Or, 10 Places Not to Go If You Don't Like Crowds:

2011-09-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

From Travel & Liesure and Yahoo:

1.) Times Square, New York City
2.) Central Park, New York City
3.) Union Station, Washington, D.C.
4.) Las Vegas Strip
5.) Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario
6.) Grand Central Terminal, New York City
7.) Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
8.) Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando
9.) Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA
10.) Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

See the list with more details about each location (and total number of visitors a year) here: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40711683;_ylt=AhXBUDCGPoeu6MelkIrFj.OhpYMA

TSA Blocks Private Parts Image Blockers! Uber Intrusive Pat Downs Ensue.

2011-09-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

Interested in becoming a lewd flasher? Head to your nearest airport! It's practically mandatory! These days it almost seems like going to the airport should be reserved for those with a Sadomasochism fetish because no matter what passengers do, they cannot seem to avoid being forcibly humiliated by TSA agents.

These pat downs and nude imaging machines have coupled to create an absurd safety procedure that has placed the comfort- and dignity -of American travelers on the back burner and moved what to the front? (ALERT!: possibly offensive language set to que in 3...2...1...) Women's camel toe (men of course being exempt from this particular invasion because of anatomical differences- but don't think other areas of men's bodies are safe, including areas that most men probably aren't happy about being prodded even by their doctors when they are in their mid-fifties getting screened for prostate cancer, let alone a random TSA agent who has probably done the same thing 38 times on his/ her shift already and only taken one bathroom break, where he/she hopefully washed his or her hands).

But ah! A solution, perhaps? Companies like http://scannershirts.com/ offer products that place an image like the presidential seal or stars or other freedom-promoting American symbols (declaring that the areas attempting to be peeped upon are for select eyes only) over passengers' private parts.

However, don't just rush to the website all at once and crash their server- the TSA does not allow passengers to wear these items- unless you are willing to be subject to an IN-DEPTH (wink) pat down/ grope session.

For more on this (and with a bit more gruesome detail) see this from the Guardian by Jennifer Abel: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/20/figleaf-tsa-intrusion

Going to be In or Around Reno, NV between October 8-9? Head to the Great Italian Festival!

2011-09-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I have a great personal affection for spaghetti and meatballs, which prompts me to share this:

Reno, NV is hosting its 30th Great Italian Festival next month. Some of the event's activities include: grape stomping, sauce cook offs, bocce ball, and a kid's gelato-eating contest (ah, to be a kid), along with musical entertainment. Free activities and entertainment highlight the festival's main focus - delicious and authentic homemade Italian food (mmmmmm!). This is Reno's final street festival for the season, so if you're going to be near, or just want an excuse to visit the Biggest Little City in the World, head to Reno!

The festival will be held on Virginia Street, in front of the Eldorado Hotel Casino, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Find the link to the event with all of the pertinent information here: http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/events/10-08-2011/great-italian-festival/?source=newsletter

Transportation Department Consumer Rules Holds Ground Against Airlines

2011-09-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

see article by Bill Poling here: http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Southwest,-Spirit-and-Allegiant-lose-challenge-of-consumer-rules/

Outrageous Checked Baggage Fees!

2011-09-20T16:23:00.001-07:00

Check out this article from USA Today about how absurd airline baggage fees are:

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011-09-19/Airline-fees-reach-400-mark-USA-TODAY-survey-finds/50470156/1

ATA is Anti Pilot Fatigue Law (Job Loss) and Airlines are Anti DOT Fare Regulations (Unfair)

2011-09-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Pilot Fatigue Law:

Although there was a lot of controversy over the delay of the pilot fatigue law, one group that is not complaining is the Air Transport Administration. The ATA says that if the Obama administration were to pass the new pilot fatigue regulations it could cost $2 billion a year over time and 27,000 jobs tied to the industry. The thinking is that airlines would be unable to raise fares drastically enough to cover the increased manpower, forcing them to cut capacity and ground crew jobs. These cuts would probably affect small markets and communities most significantly.

From:http://www.smartmeetings.com/magazine/article/headline/pilot-fatigue-laws-could-cost-jobs

For more info see: http://www.airlines.org/pages/home.aspx

DOT Fare Regulation:

Airlines are opposing the U.S Transportation Department’s new passenger bill of rights,and specifically the measure that requires airlines to clearly state all fees and taxes in any fare advertisement. Airlines are equating the reporting requirements to those that are mandatory in government-regulated industries, which they say is unfair because they have been deregulated for more than 30 years. They are also saying that no other consumer industry endures the same scrutiny or mandatory reporting regulations.

From:http://www.smartmeetings.com/magazine/article/headline/airlines-oppose-dot-fare-regulations

For more info see: http://www.dot.gov/

My Advice on the Richmond Internation Airport: Use It! It's Good!

2011-09-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

The uncannily pleasant airport experience I have been treated to at the Richmond International Airport (RIC) has forced me to do three things: 1.) ponder if I am the unknowing main character of a new Twilight Zone episode, 2.) suspectingly peek over my shoulder and glance about my peripherals seeking out Ashton Kutcher, maniacally waiting to emerge from behind a suspiciously located tarp-covered section of scaffolding with his trucker hat and Punk'd hidden camera crew, and 3.) -the one I have decided (barely) warrants the most credibility- to indulge the uncommon urge I have to share the positive feelings I am brimming with after the experience I encountered at the Richmond International Airport.

RIC in a word: amazing.

This was my first experience flying into and out of RIC and it is truly wonderful. Though Richmond, VA is a secondary city, the airport is big and new, features excellent, informative, and easy to follow signage, is impeccably clean, and is extremely easy to access both internally and externally.

I have since learned that in 2007, the airport completed construction of a multi-million dollar renovation process, expanding the terminal building by 155,000 square feet- quadrupling the amount of usable floor space in the ticketing hall and baggage claim areas, doubling the space for security checkpoints, and doubling the outdoor curbside loading/unloading zones to help ease vehicle congestion for arrivals and departures.

In 2010, an expansion of the North Parking Garage was completed, adding 2,600 on-site parking spaces. Total parking at RIC is now more than 10,000 spaces. In June 2010 a new business center opened in RIC's upper level connector, offering travelers free WiFi, work stations and meeting room space. In addition, a USO center opened for U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families.

The following airlines serve the airport: Air Tran, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada, and Vision Airlines.

The airport's website hosts a wealth of information and is easy to navigate (much like the airport itself) and offers monthly statistics, financial information, and a ton of information that is helpful for travelers.

Here is the link for the website: http://www.flyrichmond.com/

Attention: Foodies!

2011-09-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

From a Yahoo article (provided by Travel & Leisure) about the 10 best cities for foodies (a little sad San Diego didn't make it...).

10. San Antonio, TX
9. Charleston, SC
8. Savannah, GA
7. Seattle, WA
6. Portland, OR
5. Chicago, IL
4. New York, NY (no, not the buffet in Las Vegas)
3. Providence, RI
2. San Francisco, CA
1. New Orleans, LA

For the full text article with information about each city, see this: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40686622;_ylt=AuWy4Du_Pn3KzVblVMZQ6CqhpYMA

Naked Scanning Images to be Eliminated from Airport Security?

2011-09-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

An update on the controversial airport imaging machines that expose passengers' nude bodies:

Pending legislation may make revealing anything other than a generic stick-like figure outline of the passenger being scanned illegal. If anything suspicious shows up during the scan, a red box will surround the area in which the item is disclosed, rather than providing the TSA agent full disclosure of the dis-clothed passenger.

msnbc reports: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/14/7762175-naked-scanners-may-soon-be-on-the-way-out

For a report from a couple of months ago about new airline technology protecting passenger privacy, see this: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/20/7120677-tsa-new-scanner-software-will-protect-passenger-privacy

Of course, the proposed amendment will have to be passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by President Obama before these procedures are put into action.

Avis Budget Pulls Offer to Acquire Dollar Thrifty

2011-09-14T14:21:00.001-07:00

Rental car companies have been kicking up consolidation efforts in recent years. The long drawn-out saga of who will acquire Dollar Thrifty, Hertz or Avis Budget (is it just me, or are these rental car companies starting to sound like they are law firms?) is possibly near a conclusion. Avis Budget has bowed out of its bid for Dollar Thrifty, leaving only Hertz with an offer on the table (currently valued at roughly $2 billion).

For more on this: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Avis-Budget-drops-bid-for-apf-768555982.html?x=0

Passenger Removed (Handcuffed and Searched) from Airplane Due to "Suspicious Behavior" and "Appearance" on 9/11 Anniversary

2011-09-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Trending now: Shoshana Hebshi's 9/11 ordeal-

Hebeshi says she was unfairly treated because of her Middle Eastern appearance (she is half-Jewish and half-Arabic) and unfortunate seat assignment next to two men (she identified them as being Indian) who both "suspiciously" visited the restroom on an airplane on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

For the full story, see this article by the Associated Press: http://news.yahoo.com/passenger-cuffed-searched-over-appearance-003800344.html

New Airport Security Policy for Children 12 and Under Unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security

2011-09-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, September 13, 2011, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee regarding the terror threat to the United States. During her testimony, she discussed the outline of an updated airport security procedure for children 12 aged years and younger.

According to Napolitano, children will no longer be required to remove their shoes when going through the security line- except in cases of random screenings, in order to keep the sense of randomization and unpredictability of airport security in tact, and to continue to discourage terrorists' usage of children (and potentially their footwear) as a vessel for sneaking destructive weapons into crowded airports and planes.

In addition to this provision, children will also be less frequently required to undergo the increasingly intrusive pat-downs (often intruding passengers private-parts) that have more recently emerged. In order to reduce the unfortunate proclivity of the TSA to pat-down anything/ anyone that comes into an airport, children will sometimes be required to walk through metal detectors or imaging machines numerous times in order to obtain a clear(er) picture- and determine if the child is carrying anything that is illegal or potentially harmful- and will likely be subject to a more frequent exposure to explosive trace detection tools (ie: hand swabs).

TSA predicts these changes to begin being implemented in many airports in a matter of weeks (Napolitano originally said months).

It will be interesting to see what provisions are made to airport security in the coming months and years with all of this recent talk by the DHS about changes in screening technology and security procedures.

Air Travel Update: Flights Fuller than Ever!

2011-09-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

An all time record 86.4 percent of seats were filled in all flights in the months of July and August 2011 (some airlines reporting much higher numbers- in the 90s!). This number has been increasing since airline deregulation in the 1970s. Considering the continuing elimination of pleasantries provided for air travelers (without astronomical costs attached to them) and the propensity for airplane cabins to resemble sardine cans, it is pretty amazing to consider airlines' struggle for profits.

More on dismal profit outlook: http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/06/news/companies/airline_industry/index.htm

Check out this article from Associated Press for more about full flights:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Armrest-wars-Flights-are-apf-692102837.html?x=0

Pittsburgh International Airport: One Carry-on Bag Express Lane!

2011-09-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

By Harriet Baskas, msnbc.com contributor

Air travelers trying to avoid checked luggage fees by taking along extra carry-on bags often clog up the works at security checkpoints.

But passengers flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport now have incentive to pack light and check those bags.

Beginning Tuesday, travelers with just one carry-on item will be able to breeze through the airport’s new Express Security Lane, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

“Traffic has been increasing at our airport, and the checkpoint lines have been getting longer. This could pull up to 25 percent of the people out of the longer line and improve everyone’s experience,” said Bradley Penrod, executive director/CEO for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

The express line received approval from the Transportation Security Administration and will be staffed by security officers who will send passengers with both a carry-on bag and another item, such as a computer bag or purse, to one of the other, non-express, checkpoint lines. Jackets will be allowed, but not carry-on bags larger than 22" by 14" by 9".

“The program at Pittsburgh International Airport is one example of TSA partnering with airports to improve the passenger experience, while providing world-class security,” said TSA spokesperson Greg Soule.

Frequent flier and registered traveler programs already promise some travelers a quicker path to the secure side of many of the nation’s more than 450 commercial airports, but Pittsburgh airport officials believe they’ve come up with a novel, universally accessible idea.

“Even TSA couldn’t confirm we were the first airport to do this," said Penrod. "But we expect if it works here, other airports will start offering express lanes as well.”

Find the article here: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/12/7728190-just-one-bag-sail-through-security-at-pittsburgh-airport

Public Transportation and Amtrak Update: What is Going On with High-speed Rail?

2011-09-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

With the ongoing (and stubborn) federal budget debate in Washington, DC, it is still uncertain what areas of funding will be cut, sustained, or increased in the upcoming months and years. The governmental gridlock will have to give one way or the other eventually (won't it?) as Congress and President Obama attempt to sort out the financial woes of the American public and the country. Much of the most aggressive cutting -percentage wise- has been proposed for industries that many claim could operate (and perhaps more successfully and lucratively!) in the private sector without federal funding.

Amtrak has had a pretty turbulent history in the past 40 years since being organized under the National Railroad Passenger Association and the U.S. government in 1971 in an attempt to save the declining utilization of the rail system in the United States.

The United States currently has one of the least often used rail systems in a developed country. This could be due to a number of factors: 1.) High costs- for a ticket from New York to Philadelphia on Amtrak's Acela Express, $105.00; for a ticket on Bolt Bus from New York to Philadelphia, $13.00 (though the bus takes about two hours to the train's one). 2.) Abundant lack of readily available, convenient, affordable, and practical mass regional transit (think of areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, etc that have dreadfully slow and often unreliable mass transportation systems within the region despite the immense population and screaming need for such a phenomenon) 3.) Much of the United States has been designed around the concept of automobile travel, not a shared transportation system that is integrated into cities and connected to other hubs around the U.S. 4.) Amtrak needs to modernize and extend its accessibility to more travelers.

These fundamental issues are nearly impossible to overcome without a surge of funding in support of establishing the sorely needed regional transit systems (buses, subway, metro), improved infrastructure that stretches state and country-wide, and a push towards the long term sustainability of mass transit as opposed to most of America relying on personal automobiles to get from point A to point B.

Now for the update:

An Amtrak app is now available on iTunes that allows users to plan and book travel, modify reservations, check train status, explore stations and connect to their Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts.

Amtrak is ditching the 120 year old technology of the "ticket-punch" for checking rider's tickets. In California and New England, Amtrak is running pilot programs in which conductors are using handheld readers to scan ticket bar codes rather than the paper-punches- a move towards the 21st century.

Public transportation may offer the best possible medium for utilizing renewable energy resources like solar and wind power and helping to reduce America's consumption of foreign oil. (Take a look at this from California's Department of Energy for a closer look: http://www.energy.ca.gov/2010-ALT-1/index.html)

The House just passed a bill on Friday, September 9,2011, that has been called the "Kill-Amtrak" bill by NARP.

From the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP):

"The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation & Housing proposed slashing funding for Amtrak to $1.1 billion—a reduction of more than $357 million from what Amtrak received in FY2011. Significantly, the operating grant would be cut 60%--from $563 million in 2010 and 2011, down to $227 million. The bill requires states to pay 100% of costs of operations of short corridors. This apparently overrides ongoing negotiations among states and Amtrak aimed at complying with Amtrak’s 2008 reauthorization law."

"The High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program—a highly oversubscribed program that has seen 39 states apply for funds to improve (and introduce) modern passenger trains for the 135 million Americans that live in a community connected to a rail corridor—was given no funding at all. Eliminating this program would set U.S. interstate transportation back by decades, severely undermining America's ability to stay globally competitive."

Fortunately for Amtrak and rail enthusiasts, it is very unlikely this bill will go anywhere in the Democratic majority Senate, especially given President Obama's freshly unveiled (Monday September 12, 2011) jobs plan.

Obama's $447 billion proposed piece of legislation includes $4 billion in funding for high-speed rail projects and states that at least 85 percent of the funds "shall be for cooperative agreements that lead to the development of entire segments or phases of intercity or high-speed rail corridors."

In addition, the proposal includes $2 billion for struggling Amtrak (much in counter to the House's latest actions above).

There is a lot of speculation about what will happen to projects like California's high-speed rail plan between LA and San Francisco, but I suppose time will tell soon enough.

For more on sustainable public transportation, check out: http://www.railvolution.org/

Update on Controversial FAA Bill

2011-09-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few interesting articles about the FAA reauthorization bill that is being hotly debated by the U.S. Congress- and a link that should interest anyone who has thought about exploring different parts of the world but hasn't had the means to do so.

- By Bart Jansen, USA TODAY

Congress will consider this week whether to extend the Federal Aviation Administration until Jan. 31 to give lawmakers more breathing room to settle long-simmering disputes about the agency.

The agency, which has staggered along under 21 temporary extensions since 2007, faces a potential shutdown Friday because of the legislative impasse.

But Rep. John Mica, the chairman of the House transportation committee, is sponsoring legislation that would allow nearly five months for haggling over labor rules, subsidies for rural airports and the number of flights at Reagan National Airport. The goal is for a policy that would last as long as four years.

"I'm willing to compromise," Mica says. "But having a 23rd extension would be tough."

His latest proposal posted on the House Rules Committee website would keep most policies the same. It also authorizes $150 million in subsidies for rural airports, which remains a point of contention between the House and Senate.

Senate Democrats, including Mica's counterpart, Sen. John Rockefeller of West Virginia, have defended the program as important to remote communities. Rockefeller had urged Mica to offer a several-month extension so lawmakers could iron out the disputes.

The congressional wrangling hasn't been obvious to airline passengers because air-traffic controllers remained on the job during the shutdown. But a partial shutdown from July 23 through Aug. 5 furloughed 4,000 FAA workers and shuttered 200 construction projects.

Passengers might not have noticed FAA's inability to collect taxes during the shutdown because most airlines kept prices as if the taxes remained.

Congress reinstated the taxes retroactively after the shutdown, so people who bought tickets before July 23 and flew during the shutdown couldn't get refunds. But the Internal Revenue Service also decided not to collect taxes for tickets sold during the shutdown, which lawmakers said was about $400 million.

"I was really ticked," says Kate Hanni, executive director of the passenger-advocacy group FlyersRights.org. "The airlines made bank. The IRS didn't collect the money. The airlines didn't make refunds."

Link to original post: http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/09/mica-willing-to-compromise-on-faa-extension/546922/1

More about this topic: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/10/140355546/deal-reached-to-avert-faa-shutdown?ft=1&f=1001

For a surprising look at rural airport subsidies: http://news.yahoo.com/govt-pays-empty-flights-rural-airports-212212863.html

-On a different note-
Anyone interested in traveling to unique spots around the world for free (hold it- while working as a volunteer) check out this article: http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/09/mica-willing-to-compromise-on-faa-extension/546922/1

10 Years After 9/11: Where the Travel Industry is Now

2011-09-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a good article from CNN on the effects 9/11 had on travel:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/08/pf/911_travel/index.htm?hpt=tr_c2

For more information on Transportation Security Fees:

http://www.tsa.gov/research/fees/passenger_fee.shtm

And, for some interesting research 9/11's impact on travel to the U.S from overseas, take a look at this from the Department of Homeland Security:

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_ni_911_wp.pdf

U.S. Travel Association Leads Efforts in Push for U.S. Visa Reform

2011-09-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

On May 12, 2011, the U.S. Travel Industry- under the leadership of the U.S. Travel Association, the leading lobby group for the travel industry- laid out a plan that consists of increasing industry staffing, reducing visa interview wait times and expanding the Visa Waiver Program to help create American jobs and increase revenue.

According to http://www.smartervisapolicy.org/, the site established by the U.S. Travel Association and dedicated to promoting the plan Ready for Takeoff, which "outlines a comprehensive plan to grow our share of the travel market by 98 million visitors, expand U.S. exports by $390 billion, create 1.3 million new jobs and increase economic output by $859 billion." According to the site, this "all begins by improving our visa process."

The four key components of Ready for Takeoff includes the following essential steps (in no particularly discernable order):

•America must align U.S. State Department resources with market demands;
•America must reduce visa interview wait times to 10 days or fewer;
•The U.S. State Department must improve planning, measurement and transparency; and
•America must expand the Visa Waiver Program.

The U.S. Travel Association's push for many of these provisions and updates to current visa regulations has been joined by efforts from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and even Vice President Joe Biden.

USCM released a statement that echoed support for the above sentiments and captures the essence of the argument for visa reform.

“Bring in a million more tourists and create over 1.3 million jobs by passing visa reform. A burdensome U.S. visa system drives millions of potential travelers to other countries at an enormous cost to our economy. Between 2000 and 2010, the world travel market grew by more than 60 million annual travelers. Yet, in 2010 the U.S. welcomed essentially the same number of travelers as it did in 2000. Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to reform the Visa Waiver Program. The Department of Homeland Security is working on a new method of collecting visa overstay data, which is necessary to advance the legislation. Increasing travel to the U.S. could inject over $859 billion into the economy, and create over 1.3 million new American jobs. To increase economic activity and create jobs, the U.S. should prioritize inbound travel through the issuance of a Presidential Directive to recapture the 17 percent of the global long-haul travel market and match Western Europe’s current market share in Brazil, China, and India by 2015. The U.S. must also reform its cumbersome visa entry process; and expand its Visa Waiver Program to potentially qualifying nations as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Poland, and Taiwan.”

During a recent trip to China, Vice President Biden expressed his awareness of the difficulties undergone by Chinese business people when trying to arange a trip to the United States and of the urgency in resolving such issues. (As if the United States isn't already facing enough hardship in securing overseas business after S&P's gracious credit downgrade last month.)

With President Obama's much anticipated Jobs speech coming tonight, it will be interesting to see if there are any mentions of the difficulties surrounding the U.S. Visa process. Many people cringe when they think of the U.S. expanding visa possibilities to citizens of other countries, but the fact is the United States is not generally seen as a hot-spot for foreign travelers. If the United States is able to generate an increase in overseas visitors and business people, it could provide a much needed boost to the lagging U.S. economy in a too often under-utilized revenue-generating industry.

Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano Discusses Airline Security at Newseum in DC

2011-09-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Politico's Chief White House Correspondent, Mike Allen, sat down with Janet Napolitano, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, yesterday at the Newseum in Washington, DC to discuss the future of airport security, among other things.

"I think one of the first things you will see over time is the ability to keep your shoes on," said Napolitano at the forum. She added, "one of the last things you will see is the reduction or limitations on liquids" being changed.

She explained that the reasoning behind the tangibility of being able to shuffle through airport security without being forced to remove your oxfords, sandals, loafers, high heels, slippers, sneakers, crocs, or other choice of designated airport footwear is due to "better and better technology." This technological improvement will [hopefully in the near future] eliminate a majority of these now mostly unavoidable inconveniences like removing your pants-securing belt and having to measure out your allocated amounts of liquid body wash, shampoo, lotion, conditioner, shaving cream, etc like a mad scientist before a flight.

Napolitano was sure not to let travelers get their hopes up for frolicking through security lines at airports just yet, as she made certain to include the clause "months and years ahead" when referencing the shoe-removal and made note that technology capable of identifying liquids and determining harmless ones from dangerous ones is still in development, as it is the most difficult obstacle to overcome due to the explosive capabilities of select liquid substances easily hidden inside of a travel size Head and Shoulders shampoo bottle.

Napolitano and Allen also discussed the status of safety for the upcoming 10 year anniversary of September 11th. Napolitano confidently said that there is no reliable intelligence about any planned attacks. She also noted that all federal agencies are being especially vigilant about preparing for any threats on the anniversary to ensure that it is a safe day of remembrance and commemoration.

For a more in-depth look at this discussion-
Link to Politico's Story and Video Clip:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62705.html

Travel Survey: Business vs. Leisure

2011-09-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

A recent survey conducted by Travel Leaders, titled Fall Travel Trends, helps to demonstrate the nuances between the approaches, concerns, and grievances expressed by business and leisure travelers. The survey results were gathered from 443 travel experts- owners, agents, and managers from various Travel Leaders agencies, 170 of which operate primarily in the business travel market- between August 1 and 19 of 2011. While there are certainly many aspects of airport and airline methodology that is cumbersome for even the most seasoned traveler to have to consistently confront, there a few areas in which both the busy business traveler and leisurely pleasure-seeking traveler find to be particularly trying. Here are just a couple of the most intriguing questions and survey responses.

Results were varied, but overall similar among business and leisure travel experts when asked "Which TSA security measure would you most like to eliminate?"

Business Travel Expert Responses:
27.7% Shoe Removal
27.7% 3-1-1, Limiting Liquids on Carry-on Bags
24.7% Extensive Patdown
10.0% Full-body Scanner
5.9% Laptop Removal

Leisure Travel Expert Responses:
32.0% Extensive Patdown
30.4% 3-1-1, Limiting Liquids on Carry-on Bags
23.3% Shoe Removal
6.2% Full-body Scanner
3.9% None, Safety First

Observations of this question's results: the grievances of each group vary based upon the general purpose of the traveler's trip. For example, far more business travel experts expressed a disdain for security measures that impede on airport security speed. 4.4% more business travel experts ranked shoe removal as the most unwanted TSA security measure and 5.9% selected laptop removal as the most unwanted measure compared to a negligible amount of leisure travel experts. Leisure travel experts were interestingly more apt to pick extensive patdowns (a substantial 7.3% more than business) and carry-on liquids limitations as unwanted, but a small percentage, 3.9%, also remarked that there was no security measure too time-consuming or obtrusive, as safety should be the number one concern of air travelers.

Another interesting question posed was "What is the most common action taken by your clients to avoid or limit airline baggage fees?"

An overwhelming proportion of respondents seemed to have the same initial cost-saving reaction, but the make-up of the secondary responses is quite varied.

Business Travel Experts:
51.2% Traveling with Carry-on Baggage Only
26.5% Flying on an Airline where the Traveler has Elite Status
17.1% Flying on an Airline the doesn't Charge Baggage Fees for the First Bag
2.9% Checking Baggage once On-Board the Plane
2.4% Paying with Airline Branded Credit Card

Leisure Travel Experts:
60.9% Traveling with Carry-on Baggage Only
22.2% Flying on an Airline the doesn't Charge Baggage Fees for the First Bag
8.1% Flying on an Airline where the Traveler has Elite Status
6.8% Paying with Airline Branded Credit Card
1.6% Checking Baggage once On-Board the Plane

What I find most interesting about this data is that while the majority of both groups were keen to saving money by only traveling with free carry-on baggage, far more business travel experts (18.4% more) were reliant upon the traveler's elite status with an airline to avoid increasingly costly checked baggage fees. This is strong evidence that frequent business travelers are willing to maintain loyalty to an airline or allied group of carriers due to the cost-saving perks that accompany being a frequent passenger. The leisure travel group made up for this vast percentage by opting for a combination of free carry-on baggage, flying with a carrier that allows one free checked bag, and somewhat curiously, paying with an airline branded credit card (2.83 times more leisure travelers did this than business travelers).

On Today's Menu: The Ice Cream of America!

2011-09-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

Americans collectively gorge on 1.5 BILLION gallons of ice cream a year, perhaps contributing to the tipping scale of America, but it certainly does so in a shamelessly delicious way. I am hoping to shed some light on a few particularly delectable- and some unusual, if not boldly inventive- ice creameries around the United States.

Anyone in the Bay area in search of a tasty treat, make your way to one of these locations:

Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco, CA- where almost everything in the shop is made from scratch- even the marsh mellows for the Rocky Road and subtle but exotic flavors such as Balsamic Strawberry are ready for ample sampling.

Humphry Slocombe in San Francsico, CA- with old standbys like Peanut Butter Curry and Salt and Pepper... wait.

Ici Ice Cream in Berkeley, CA- features the flavor creations of a former pastry chef in inspired batches of Rose and Candied Cherry creamy goodness. Plus, the waffle-cones are made in-house.

On the opposite shore:

The Bent Spoon in Princeton, NJ- features interesting cream-taste combinations like Lavender Marscapone and Tomato (nicely paired with Basil flavored ice cream!). Don't forget to give the Hot Chocolate ice cream a try, if you're not ultra adventurous.

Woodside Farm Creamery in Hockessin, DE- the farm that this creamery is located at has been in existence for over 200 years (est. 1796). The local cows pump out (not by themselves) exorbitantly cream-a-licious milk for the production of this exemplary frozen treat.

And in-between the oceans:

PumpHouse Creamery in Minneapolis, MN- this shop is ran by Barb Zapzalka and utilizes organic milk and cream from a small Wisconsin dairy farm. The ice cream is made on-site and the menu is frequently updated.

Morelli's in Atlanta, GA- come here for fanciful Italian-themed savory selections like Ricky Ricotta Cheese and Rosemary Olive Oil.

A small sampling of additional shops for your consideration:

Ben Franklin's Tomato in Rehoboth Beach, DE
Scoops in Los Angeles, CA
Ample Hills Creamery in Brooklyn, NY
Scoop DeVille (awesome name) in Philadelphia, PA
The Creole Creamery in New Orleans, LA
Sweet Action Ice Cream in Denver, CO
Bubbie's Ice Cream in Honolulu, HI

AND- for the most adventurous dessert-seeking foodies among us- me not included in this group- who are in search of an ice cream experience unlike (for a reason) any of the others above, make your way to the famous Heladeria Lares in Puerto Rico. Featuring over 1000 flavors ranging from the predictable (and dependable!) chocolate and vanilla, to the creamy concoctions of otherwise tempting tastes like garlic, rice and beans, chicken[!], and shrimp[!!!].

If you have any extraordinary ice-cream shops to add to the list, please do!

THAI Airways Expansion

2011-09-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Two months after being awarded 5th place in the World's Best Airline category at the World Airline Awards in June 2011 (a considerable climb compared to 2010's 9th place ranking), THAI Airways has just announced the launch of a new low-fare airline to take place in July 2012.

Thai Smile Air- a fitting name for the "Land of Smiles" country- will operate out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok and will feature a fleet of eleven Airbus 320 aircrafts, each with a seating capacity of 174 passengers. The airline will initially serve secondary route markets within Thailand such as Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai, with the goal of expanding internationally as early as 2013.

This is not the only bit of expanding THAI Airways has on its plate in the near future. A statement by THAI President, Mr. Piyasvasti, made clear that "Thai Smile will not affect THAI's plans to also launch Thai Tiger Airways, a discount carrier in partnership with Singapore's Tiger Airways, which will materialise as soon as possible."

Hotel Occupancy- and Rates!- Rising

2011-08-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

A new projection from PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality and Leisure Practice predicts that the average daily hotel rate in the United States for the full-year of 2011 will increase by 3.6% as compared to 2010 rates. An additional 5.1% rate increase in 2012 is expected to follow.

Despite this, demand for hotel rooms has been abnormally high in 2011, especially in July, when, according to Smith Travel Research, 105 million room nights were booked- the highest number of room nights ever sold in one month, even with a 3.9% average daily rate increase for that particular month. The only other single month (in any year) that more than 100 million rooms were sold in the U.S. was in July 2010.

It will be interesting to keep an eye on whether the predicted price increases for the average daily hotel rate will have a substantial adverse effect on the increasing occupancy rates, or if travelers will continue to book more hotel rooms regardless of price increases. It would be unfortunate if hotels detracted potential customers with a continuation of inflated rates; however, considering the data above, this scenario does not seem to coincide with the findings of the conducted studies.

East Coast Travel -and Stranded Travelers- Recovering from Hurricane Irene

2011-08-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

With Hurricane Irene's departure from the Eastern United States, travel operators have been forced to attempt to restore regularity to the travel schedule with as much rapidity as possible. Immense numbers of flights, public transportation systems, business and leisure travelers, and local residents were affected by the damage inflicted by the Category 1 hurricane. Despite the tragedies and damages done by the storm, it is fortunate that the storm did not escalate as expected. MSNBC reports on the recovery process for East Coast travel.

Article from MSNBC.com follows:

The nation's planes, trains and buses had their first full day of near-normal service since Thursday, as most passengers stranded by Hurricane Irene slowly made their way home.

Airlines said overall Tuesday that despite some scattered issues, including a handful of delays and cancellations, most flights were running smoothly because of the overtime put in by crews put in the day before. Most ran extra flights Monday to clear the glut of travelers waiting to fly.

Flight tracking service FlightAware reported only 159 flights were scratched compared with more than 1,700 on Monday. Nearly 14,000 flights were scrapped in the hours before, during and after the storm. That's the most in any four-day period in more than a year, surpassing cancellations during either of the massive snowstorms this winter.

United Continental, Delta and US Airways expect to finish shuttling the majority of stranded travelers to their final destinations Tuesday. American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle said it cleared its backlog of passengers in New York waiting to take off. And JetBlue spokesman Mateo Lleras said every passenger affected by the storm should be brought to their destinations by the end of the week.

Most airlines reported few problems getting planes back in the air and getting travelers where they needed to go. But some officials said that the decision to shut down major airports — especially the closure of New York's five main airports by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — caused a scramble.

David Holtz, the managing director for operations at Delta, had just about finished its cancellation plan around 6 p.m. on Friday and could have kept flying at New York's Kennedy airport through Saturday evening when airport officials said they would close at noon Saturday.

That "threw a huge monkey wrench into our planning," he said. Delta canceled additional flights to adjust to the earlier closing.

Airport officials thought the 18-hour notice was generous. But with flights of 12 hours or longer scheduled from as far away as Tokyo, the decision forced the airline to act quickly to notify passengers before they left for the airport, he said.

Susan Baer, the Port Authority's aviation director, said the shutdown of New York's public transit system — which most employees use to get to work — affected its decision to close the airports.

Despite the sooner-than-expected shutdown, some airlines praised the efficiency of the airports' reopening.

"The coordination was really extraordinary," JetBlue CEO Dave Barger told CNBC on Monday. "I really don't think we could have had a more effective startup."

Reopening airports means much more than just switching on the lights. In New York, for example, it involved doing everything from clearing cots used by stranded travelers to making sure airport staff could show up to work. With the city's public transportation system limping back into service, Baer said security agents were picked up by their managers in vans to ensure that they'd make it to work on time.

Amtrak resumed service between New York and Boston on Tuesday. Trains are still canceled between Philadelphia and New York because of flooding. Amtrak also canceled trains from the Northeast to cities like Miami and New Orleans.

Travelers who couldn't fly or take the train turned to the bus. BoltBus was fully booked Monday and Tuesday, according to Timothy Stokes, a spokesman for its parent company Greyhound. The only cancellation for Greyhound was its route between Albany and Syracuse.

Megabus also saw an increase in passengers who had tried to get around by other means, according to Dale Moser, president and COO of Megabus parent company Coach USA.

All buses were running again, but some kept their speeds down on roads other than interstate highways as a precaution.

Article originally appeared in Travel News on MSNBC.com
By SAMANTHA BOMKAMP and SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Airlines Writer Joshua Freed in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44325892/ns/travel-news/

Image uploaded from: http://www.ctpost.com/news/slideshow/Hurricane-Irene-30520.php#photo-83

TSA Pilots Traveler Behavior Screenings In Boston

2011-08-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have only one historical observation; "Papers please! Your papers are not in order! Come with me."
The domestic version of the Global Entry program can not come fast enough for me!

From BTN

The Transportation Security Administration will expand its Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques program by requiring every airline passenger traveling through Boston Logan International Airport to engage in a "brief conversation" with a TSA officer, who will perform a behavior analysis. A 60-day pilot begins August 15.

Confirming several media reports about the new pilot, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said passengers will be asked three or four questions, possibly related to their recent whereabouts, their destination and whether they have a business card.

"All passengers are being screened normally, but during the screening, it's [their] interaction with the behavior officer, not so much your answer," Davis said. "These officers are trained to observe passengers who are [displaying] physical and physiological signs that they fear discovery or that they are being deceptive."

Though the SPOT program first took effect in 2003 and currently is used in 160 airports, "what's different is that we are positioning this right at the checkpoint along with the document checker," Davis said. Up to this point, she explained, TSA officers "have walked around and observed passengers, and they have engaged passengers in conversation, and they have referred passengers for additional screenings." Now in Boston, if a TSA officer is suspicious of a passenger following the behavioral assessment at the checkpoint, that passenger will "undergo a pat-down and have your carry-on physically searched."

TSA will use the pilot in Boston to "inform any next steps," Davis said. "We will look at the data that we collect during the 60 days and we will look at how the program impacts passengers and screening operations, and how it impacts wait times."

TSA acknowledged the program could make some travelers uneasy, but accepts that "normal behavior in an airport involves some level of nervousness and anxiety," Davis said. She also claimed the program "is an antidote to racial profiling because race and ethnicity is not something we look at all. If you just focus on someone's race or ethnicity you are going to miss a terrorist."

TSA warns against new threat

2011-07-08T04:31:00.000-07:00

The Transportation Security Administration has started warning airlines and foreign security agencies against a new terrorist threat: surgically implanted explosives. White House spokesman Jim Carney says that there is no immediate threat of an attack, but terrorists are attempting to adapt to increased security and there needs to be an awareness of the possibility. In order to cope with these new developments, security agencies are intentionally acting “unpredictable” by using a variety of screening tactics during security checks.

I don't even want to imagine what this means to the aggressive airport screening procedures.

Hilton ends franchise deal with Las Vegas hotel

2011-07-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

I have been to this hotel two times this year for site inspections. I instinctively knew something was going on.... so, this is not surprising although sad.
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Hilton Worldwide will terminate its franchise license agreement with the owner of the Las Vegas Hilton on Jan. 1.

The casino hotel, built in 1969 by casino magnate Kirk Kerkorian, opened as the International Hotel. It was sold to Hilton in 1970 and was renamed the Las Vegas Hilton in 1971.

At 2,956 guestrooms, the hotel is the largest Hilton in the world. It is next to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The current ownership group, led by Colony Capital, has owned the Las Vegas Hilton since 2004.